The morning call., 1893-02-12
SAND LIZARDS FIGHT.

The tiny lizards that look something like
chameleons and run over the deserts of Cali
fornia and Arizona appear to be very timd
and shy. Such is really their nature. but
when angry they will fight anything Of
their size with the ferocty of bulldog.
Whenever they fight among themselves
which is rare, it always means the death of
one or both. There is no giving up when
enough punishment has been administered.
but they stick 10 it until death.
A short time agU couple of prospectors,
while crossing the desert near Casa Grande.
saw two of these creatures In combat that
lasted over two hours.
The men were taking their lunch and all
around sun and silence held dominion over
the waste of sand. The glare was binding
and both men held their heads down so as
to ward off As much as possible the suns
rays. While in the position they were look
ing steadily at the sand and soon one saw
about three feet in front Of him two OF the
little sand lizards come from behind two
clumps of cactus He called the others at
tention to them and both sat still to see
what the reptiles would do.
For several minutes they rushed at each
other without doing any harm, as neither
seemed able TO get hold. They went over
the burning sand With such rapdity as to
appear like CLEANS of greenish light.
When it seemed as If both must be tired
and unit for fighting the fun was really be-
ginning. They always kept within q GER
tain SPOT. as if they had agreed on a certain
battlefield, and when they met it was
almost ia the center. Both of the tiny
creatures struck with what must have been
terrific force, and shrill, weird cry came
from each of them.
They clawed and scratched and bit wher-
ever they could get hold. and soon both
had lost their color and were covered with
blood and dirt They fought in circle like
q pair of gladators. and although both were
weak and several limbs were broken, they
showed no signs OF giving up the contest.
For full hour the fight was according to
prize-ring rule. but about that time the
smaller one began TO look for an advantage
and made change of tactics. He got his
antagonist by the throat and pushed him
backward against clump of prekly cac-
tus.
They were now out of the circle. and the
larger one was somewhat surprised at the
new style of fighting. but he was not long
left in doubt as to his antagonists methods.
Alter getting the larger one against the
cactus the smaller one commenced to push
with all his power and forced the head OF
the former violently on TO the prickly
thorns. AS they were behind him he
could not see where he was nor dodge
them. although they made no impress
sion on his body. In few minutes
time there was q shrill shrek, and the
larger one was hanging on 10 a thorn which
had stuck into his eye. Still the smaller
one kept up his tactics. aud after a long
struggle the other eye was destroyed.
After this the battle was an easy one, and
he soon saw his antagonist dead in front of
him. lie was the victor, and was about to
leave the field to make repairs, but such was
not to be.
The prospector had not noticed them, but
half hundred lizards of the same species
had been watching the fight. and had evil
IDENTITY seen the advantage the victor took
of bis adversary, or else wanted the victory
to be the other way. But. whatever the
reason. the whole crowd jumped on the
victor, and in less than minute he was
torn TO pieces and the Others disappeared in
the sand.