LIZAEDS. 
graceful form and action, and its bird-like motions, 
with any other feeling than admiration. 
As he walks along the roads and lanes that divide 
the properties, he will perceive at every turn the 
smooth and trim little figures of the Wood-slaves 
(Mahouya agilis) basking on the loose stones of the 
dry-walls ; their glossy fish-like scales glistening in 
the sun with metallic brilliance. They lie as still as 
if asleep ; but on the intruder’s approach they are 
ready in a moment to dart into the crevices of the 
stones, and disappear until the danger is past. 
If he looks into the outbuildings of the estates, 
the mill-house, or the boiling- house, or the cattle- 
sheds, a singular croaking sound above his head 
causes him to look up ; and then he sees clinging to 
the rafters, or crawling sluggishly along with the back 
downward, three or four Lizards, of form, colour, and 
action very diverse from those he has seen before. 
It is the Gecko, or Croaking Lizard ( Thecadactylus 
IcBvis), a nocturnal animal in its chief activity, but 
always to be seen in these places, or in hollow 
trees, even by day. Its appearance is repulsive, I 
allow, but its reputation for venom is libellous and 
groundless. 
The stranger walks into the dwelling-house. 
Lizards, lizards, still meet his eye. The little 
Anoles (A. ioduruSf A. opalinus, &c.) are chasing 
each other in and out between the jalousies, now 
stopping to protrude from the throat a broad disk of 
brilliant colour, crimson or orange, like the petal of 
a flower, then withdrawing it, and again display- 
ing it in coquettish play. Then one leaps a yard 
