222 
BLUEFIELDS. 
forming longitudinal rows, with broad interspaces of 
the rich ground colour, greatly increasing the effect. 
What the object or peculiar function of this pro- 
trusile goitre is, remains still obscure. It has been 
suggested that as the Anoles prey upon butterflies 
and other insects, the brilliant disk-like surface may 
present an attraction to vagrant insects by its resem- 
blance either to a richly coloured flower or an equally 
gay butterfly. It may be so ; though in the hun- 
dreds that I have observed, I never saw an insect 
approach it ; nor do I think, if such were the object, 
the animal would keep projecting and withdrawing 
it, as it does, with considerable motion of the body, 
but w'ould rather let it lie extended as motionless as 
possible, which it does not do. I certainly think it 
is connected with the intercourse of the sexes; and am 
pretty sure that the exposure of the goitre is meant 
as an expression of anger and defiance to one of the 
same sex. As far as I have observed, the female 
Anolis is almost, if not quite, destitute of the goitre. 
I have had a Purple-tail, which when held in my 
hand protruded its goitre, while the energy with 
which it would now and then fiercely seize upon my 
fingers, and endeavour to gnaw them, manifested its 
anger and impatience at being confined. 
After having been actively engaged in running and 
leaping, whether in play or alarm, we occasionally 
see them remain still, loll out the tongue, and pant 
with open mouth very much in the manner of a dog. 
Our little Anoles are not aquatic, nor have they, 
as has been stated, any predilection for marshy situ- 
ations. I have never seen them take the water 
