The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-07-10
The SAD TALE OF A LIzARp.


Certain species Of lizards have the re-
markable and convenient faculty Of dis
pensing with their tails in time OF danger.
those Of California being especially gifted
~ Nature with detachable a3psndages.
summer campers in the mountains have
excellent opportunities for studying this
characteristic Of the lizard tribe. anu
many strange anecdotes are carried from
Iorested wilderness to city homes.
The lizard loves his tail as Z miser loves
his money. but sometimes II seems detri-
mental 10 his safety, and as it is connect
Cd 10 his body with a sort of patent fas-
tener Arrangement that becomes loosen
ed with the slightest muscular twiteh, il
frequently drops of. leaving the reptile IN
q painful state OF terminal decellette
When once or the tan cannot be read
JusJed. but Nature is KIND, and IN course
Of time a new growth takes its place and
the lizard is renovated.
Mr.. Sturtevant, who lives in Sierra Ma
Gre, Cal. at the foot OF the Mount VII
son trail. was camping in the mountains
short time ago and tells the following
story of d progressive tragedy which he
witnessed in Natures auditorium, the
actors being a lizard, some lies, a cal
and a coyote:
7 was sitting OF a. rock eating my
camp dinner. and after finishing my COT
fee tossed The sweetened grounds on
the grass at my feet. I then lit my pipe,
settled myself rs comfortably &c my
6ouider would permit and proceeded to
enjoy the beauty and fragrance OF the
great nature gardens. listening TO the
choral concert Of stream and pines. No
animate creatures were in evidence. and
seemed ID be the only living thing in the
wilderness.
Before long, however. prosperous
looking lizard crawled into the arena and
for some time ciTced about with indef-
rite intent. At last seeming the sugared
coffee grounds he daTted to the banquet
board and began to eat
Every once in a while by way OF va
riety he took in a fly by suction. and I
could not help but think how strange the
flies must feel in the lizard and how
strange the lizard must feel with the
flies scratching about inside.
While the lizard was gorging on files
and coffee. happily ignorant Of Impending
danger. I saw my old cat creeping up
her tail nervously twitchins back and
forth ard her mouth quivering in antici-
patton of a feast.
at last she gave a swift spring, but
in doing so she made a slight noise that
warned the lizard. and quick az a flash,
while the cat was yet in Tnid-air the
lizard shuddero1 convuisively, dropped. ats
tail as a startled thief would drop his
booty and scurried for the underbrush.
THE cat lit and clutched the abandon
ed tail, and the look of astonishment and
awe that swept over her physiognOmy
when she discovered how she had been
outwitted was enough to make a stone
laugh She finally ate the tail with ap-
parent relish. and then went of short
distance, where she sat contentedly wash
ing her face.
In a very short time the lizard came
from its hiding place and gl;ded all about
az if hunting for It's lost appendage. Ev
cry once in a while Il hesitated and blink
cd its eyes as II 20 keep back the tears,
then continued the search.
About this time pussy had finished her
ablutions, and, discovering the return
OF her victim. she bounced upon the
lizard this time without ceremonious
preparation and ate it up Then
thought how strange was the power that
combined the lizard, the flies and the
cat
Not long afterward I heard the brush
cracking and a series of distressed
rueows down the canyon. I picked UP my
gun and followed the sounds. and when
I arrived on the scene ! found a great
sreaking coyote just finishing my cat.
Taking careful aim. / finished the coy
Ote, and for the first time IN my life I
obtained several species Of game. lizard
flies. cat and coyote. all with one shot.
The strange series of incidents that
had been enacted before me during the
afternoon furnished abundant material
for meditation. and a weird sensation OF
unrest creDt over me as ! Thought M
turn might come next But nothing more
occurred, for fate had evidently become
wearied with the previous succession o.
events and had rushed away. leaving the
mountain world in peace Chicago Rec