HABITS OF ANGLES. 
219 
I observed this species feeding on ants. On a gate- 
post a number of scattered ants of a small kind were 
running to and fro, as they very frequently are seen 
to do. A beautiful male Purple-tail had stationed 
himself on the post, perpendicularly, with the head 
downward ; and as the ants one by one came near 
him, he snapped them up. He did not run after 
them, but waited till each one came within reach : 
in a minute or two 1 saw him thus take a dozen or 
more. Each capture was the work of an instant ; he 
touched the post with his muzzle, and the ant was 
gone : they were evidently seized with the lips, not 
with the tongue. I afterwards observed the A. opa- 
linus employed in the very same way. 
These little creatures are as playful as they are 
pretty. As they creep about, they often catch sight 
of another of the same species ; immediately one 
raises and depresses suddenly the head and fore parts, 
flirts the tail from side to side, and extends the goitre 
by means of the elastic arched bone in front, till its 
tip reaches nearly as far as the muzzle. The brilliant 
goitre is thus extended and relaxed alternately several 
times ; an action, I incline to think, intended as a 
provocative, or else a manifestation of sexual desire. 
After having thus signalised ” for a few seconds, 
one darts towards the other, who usually runs away, 
apparently as if wishing to be caught. 
« latebras fugitiva petebat, 
Non tamen effugiens.. tota latere volens ; 
Sed magis ex aliqua cupiebat parte videri ; 
Laetior hoc multo, quod male tecta foret.” 
Maxim. Eleg. i. 66. 
