96 A Partial Biography of the Green Lizard. [¥February, 
A PARTIAL BIOGRAPHY OF THE GREEN LIZARD. 
BY SARAH P. MONKS. 
HE green lizard (Anolis principalis) of the Southern United 
States is sometimes called the American chameleon, but it is 
not related to the chameleon of the Old World. 
Its changeable coat, however, gives it a popular right to the 
name. Two specimens of Anolis that I have kept for months in 
a wire-cloth cage, have shown some interesting habits. 
The female came from South Carolina in November, 1879, in 
good condition, but with the greater part of the tail wanting. 
She was placed in a small cage and supplied with flies, but refused 
to eat. During the winter the cage stood among house plants, in 
a room heated by a furnace, and although she was lively and ran 
around a good deal, she ignored the flies. Thus she remained 
without food and water (except an occasional drop that fell by 
accident when the plants were watered) for four or five months. 
But when the warm spring days came, she greedily devoured 
the flies, and when water was sprinkled in the cage, she eagerly 
lapped it up with her tongue. It is said that the Old World 
chameleons drink in the same manner. She would not notice 
water that was in a small jar in the cage, although very thirsty. 
Sometimes when I approach the cage she lifts her head and 
opens her mouth. I do not know whether she is conscious of 
asking for water, but I soon recognized this as an indication of 
thirst. In April anew tail began to show itself, looking like a 
small black wart, and since then it has grown nearly an inch. At 
first it was distinct and looked like a graft on the other portion, 
but now, after several moultings, it is continuous, although it can 
be easily distinguished from the rest; the scales are smaller, it 
always remains darker than the rest of the body. 
About the middle of May another and larger specimen, a male, 
came from South Carolina, and I put them ina large box in which 
were twigs and a stick of wood. After the larger one had dined, 
their antics on seeifg one another were exceedingly amusing. 
First, one would raise itself to the full extent of its front legs, 
and bow its head and the fore part of its body in a regular and 
dignified manner. It worked as though there was a hinge joint 
at the shoulders, Then the other would repeat the gesture. The 
male, when bowing, erected a small nuchal crest, and after sev- 
eral bows, held its head still and stiff and distended a dew-lap. 
