28 Lined Anolis. REPTILES. Tapayaxin. 
edged with black, extends from each eye to tlie sides 
these combats, and perhaps these ■witnesses of their 
of the back, and then blends with the general tint. 
prowess are the females which become the prize of 
Not much is known of the habits of this animal ; but 
the victor. The weaker of the two combatants, when 
we do know that, notwithstanding its formidable name 
worsted, takes to flight ; its opponent follows up its 
and aspect, it is very harmless, and that it chiefly lives 
victory, and if it can overtake it, quickly devours it ; 
upon grain and vegetables. Though its life is for the 
sometimes, however, it only gets hold of its tail, which 
most part spent on trees, like the other species of this 
snaps ofi:' in its mouth, and which it stops to swallow. 
grou[), it often takes to the water like the Guana, for 
thus allowing time for the wretched caitiff to escape.” 
which [ urpose its compressed tail and' partially webbed 
THE ANOLIS OF CAROLINA, The Gueen Lizard 
toes admirably adapt it. It is a native of Guiana, 
OF Carolina of Catesby {Anolius j^'iitcipuUs), has no 
Martinique, and Vera Cruz. 
crest on the back, and its tail is rounded, thick at the 
The last of the perchers we shall mention are the 
base, and furnished with a central series of larger, more 
Anolis. The genus Anolius of former authors con- 
keeled scales above. Catesb}^ in his “ Natural History 
tained numerous species, some of which are very rare in 
of Carolina,” says, “ These Lizards are usually about 
collections. Distinctions which lused to be considei'ed 
five inches long, of a dusky-green colour. They fre- 
only specific, have of late been thought of sulficient 
quent houses, are familiar and harmless, and are sulfered 
importance to establish generic divisions; and these 
with impunity to sport and catch flies on tables and 
genera are now numerous enough to form a small sub- 
windows, which they do very dexterousl}^ and no less 
family Anoliina. The members of this little group 
divertingly. They appear chiefly in summer, and at 
are characterized by their having the toes dilated 
the approach of cold weather they retreat to their 
under the last joint but one into a rather broad plate. 
winter recesses, and lie toi'pid in the hollows and 
which is covered underneath with small transverse 
crevices of rotten trees. These lizards change their 
scales, like the Geckos, and which assist them in climb- 
colour in some measure like the chameleon, for in a 
ing trees. Their throat pouch is distinct, of consider- 
hot day their colour has been a bright green ; the next 
able size, and largely dilatable. The back, in many of 
day changing cold, the same lizard a]ipeared brown. 
the species, is furnished with a crest, which is prolonged 
They are a prey to cats and ravenous birds. It fre- 
to the extremity of the tail. In others it is simple, or 
quently happens that a few warm sunshinj' days so 
onl\^ furnivshed with a slight crest of small scales. The 
invigorate them that they will come out of their 
tail is long, swollen at intervals, and crested. 
winter retirements and aiqiear abroad ; when on a 
The Anolis are animals which live chiefly upon trees 
sudden the weather changing to cold so enfeebles 
and shrubs, and feed upon insects, fruits, and berries. 
them that they are incapacitated to creep to their 
Their .skin is generally of a green hue ; and, like the 
winter holes, and die of cold.” 
chameleons, thej' have the power of changing their 
In the second gvoup, or those whose habits are 
colours quickly. They are lively creatures, run quickly. 
terrestrial, the body is subtrigonal, covered with large 
and leap with agility from one branch to another. 
keeled scales directed obliquely towards the back. 
They bite ratlier fiercely if laid hold of, but their bite 
THE LION LIZARD {Leiocephalus Schricbersli), one 
is not attended with any bad results. 
of these, has been described by Catesby. The crest of 
THE LINED ANOLIS {Anolius Uneatas) is one of 
the back and tail in this species is very small, the tail 
the species which have the crest well marked and 
is roundish, slightly compressed; and, unlike the pre- 
extending all along the back, and is a native of the 
ceding species, the animals do not change colour. 
island of Martinique, and probably several other of 
nor do they dilate their throat. The Lion Lizard, 
the West India islands. It is of a gray colour, and 
according to Catesby, is usually tibout five or six 
the body is marked with two interrupted black 
inches long. It is of a graj'' colour, streaked with lines 
streaks on each side. The throat pouch is large. 
of a lighter gray ; the legs are long. “ It cocks its tail 
and marked with a large black spot, and the tail is 
with a round twirl, and looks fierce, from which it 
long and compressed. Father Nicholson, the Jesuit, 
may perhaps have taken its English name. They are 
lias given an account of this little Anolis in his 
inoflensive, frequenting the rocks on the sea-shores of 
“ Natural history of the island of St.’ Domingo.” It is 
Cuba, Hispaniola, &c. They are nimble, and run 
very lively, he saj’s, and is a hold litt’e creature ; it is 
with surprising swiftness, yet are a prey to sea-gulls 
so familiar (hat it walks without fear into apartments, 
and other ravenous birds.” 
creeping up on the tables, and even walking over the 
THE TAPAYAXIN of Mexico (/V/ry)w.90?«ffl orhiculure) 
guests seated at them. Its attitude is graceful, and it 
— fig. 9 — another, and a singular-looking species, has 
looks steadfastly, observing everything around it with 
been quaintly described by Hernandez in his “ Natural 
such a degree of attention, that one would almost 
History of New Syiain.” fl'he body of the animal is 
believe it was listening to what was said. It feeds 
short, oval, very flat, and has on each side a scaly 
tqion flies, spiders, and other insects, which it swallows 
ridge, but no crest either on back or tail. The upper 
entire. These Anolis often fight with cacli other. 
parts of the body are rough with tubercles. The limbs 
“ When two of them commence an attack,” says 
are very short, and the tail, not the length of the body. 
Nicholson, “ they come forward boldy" and proudly. 
is flat and broad at the root. Hernandez, who was 
and seem to menace each other, by rapidly shaking 
the first author that has mentioned this reptile, thus 
their heads. Their throat swells, their eyes sparkle ; 
describes it: — “Amongst the difl'erent varieties of the 
they seize each other with fury, and fight savagely. 
lizard, is apparently the Tapayaxin, although it has 
Several other individuals are generally sjiectators of 
always the body of an orbicular shape and flat, re.sem- 
