SEFTEMBER. 239 



to escape were indescribably'frantic. Eecapturing it the 

 second time, I placed it in a pen, quickly constructed of 

 books and boards, and slowly introduced the snake, push- 

 ing it forward, inch by inch. Immediately the lizard 

 stood nearly upright, and as the snake's head touched it, 

 swelled up until I thought it would burst, and then fell 

 over, limp, shriveled, and apparently dead. 



I was puzzled at this, and left the tent in hopes of 

 finding another lizard in the wood-pile. Failing in this, 

 I returned, and was more surprised than ever to find that 

 the lizard had not really died from fright, but had merely 

 swooned from fear. It was now partly itself again, almost 

 colorless or a very pale gray, crouched as far as possible 

 from the snake, and trembling. Did it expect every mo- 

 ment to be seized and devoured ? I am at a loss to know ; 

 the more so because I have had serpents and these gray 

 swifts, as they are usually called, associated in Wardian 

 cases, and no evidence of fear on the part of either was de- 

 tected. I can only suggest that my tent lizard had had an 

 ugly experience in which a snake had prominently figured. 

 A valuable point would be gained could this be proved, for 

 then it would be shown that lizards have memory. But 

 those persons who have had them as pets are generally 

 convinced of this ; and is not general conviction tanta- 

 mount to a demonstration ? Not always, I admit ; but in 

 such a matter as evidence of intelligence in low animal ' 

 forms it is about all that can be offered. 



And here is what I have to ofEer as evidence that my 

 pet remembered. When I released the creature it slowly 

 crawled away, for it was yet weak, and gradually widened 

 the distance until hidden in a far corner of the tent. 

 Three days later I chanced upon it as it was darting after 

 flies. Its activity showed that it had wholly recovered. 

 Again I brought it to the table, and although neither 

 snake, books, nor boatds were there, the lizard was sorely 



