Anolis (anolius), a reptile of the saurian family, peculiar to America, belonging to that section of the iguanas which Cuvier distinguishes as having teeth on the palate of the mouth as well as on the interior jaw bones. Its body, legs, and tail are long and tapering. The fore legs are longest, having live toes furnished with sharp, hooked claws, with a sort of pad appended to the under side of the last joint, which increases the power of their hold on any substance over which they may chance to be walking. There is a large extent of loose skin extending from the chin to the belly, which when not distended forms a longitudinal fold under the whole lower surface of the animal. The anolis has a singular serrated or saw-edged crest along the spine and upper side of the tail, and the whole animal is covered with small, round scales, which give it a granulated appearance resembling the finest shagreen. The anolis seems in many respects to supply in the new world the place occupied by the chameleon in the old. Its colors change with the same or even greater rapidity, especially on the loose skin of the throat, which is constantly distended when the animal is actuated by strong passions, and in this state it assumes an endless succession of ever-varying hues.

It frequents woods, coppices, and rocky places; climbs and leaps so swiftly and rapidly that its movements can hardly be traced; and, when overheated or fatigued, pants like a tired dog. It is a gentle, inoffensive creature, feeding on insects and flies, and is easily alarmed. There are six species, two of which belong to the United States, and the others to the Antilles and.to South America. 1. A. velifer is of a beautiful ashy blue color, and is the largest of the family. Its body is about a foot long, and the tail a foot and a half. The crest extends along the top of the tail for half its length from the origin, and is supported by from 12 to 15 rays. It is a native of the West Indies. 2. A. bima-culatus is little more than half the size of the former species, is of a greenish blue color, clear on the head and upper parts, but variegated with brown on the body, tail, and extremities. It is found from Pennsylvania to the shores of the gulf of Mexico and in the Antilles. 3. A. eqitestris has scarcely any crest, and is nearly the size of A. velifer. 4. A. bullaris is not above half the size of A. equestris, with a reddish green throat, and very pretty.

It is green in color, has a short muzzle spotted with brown, and, except in the absence of the crest or tail, is very similar to A. bimacula-tus. It belongs to the Antilles. 5. A. line-atus is of a pure, bright green color, rather larger than the last species, and is marked along each flank with two parallel lines of oblong black spots; it is a native of different parts of South America. 0. A. principalis is a native of South Carolina, and is known as the green lizard. It is a beautiful greenish gold-colored reptile, particularly distinguished by a black band on the temples, and the elongated and flattened form of its muzzle.

Crested Anolis (Anolius velifer)

Green Carolina Anolis (Anolius principalis).

Red-throated Anolis (Anolius bullaris).