St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-11-08
DETACH THEIR TAILS.
Lizards in California That Perform
That Operation When Fright
ened or Pursued.

Certain species of lizards have the
remarkable and convenient faculty of
dispensing with their tails in times of
danger, those of California being espe-
cially gifted by nature with detachable
appendages.
Summer campers in the mountains
have excellent opportunities for study
ing this characteristic of the lizard
tribe, and many strange anecdotes are
carried from forested wilderness to
city homes, says the St. Louis Repub-
lie.
The lizard loves his tail as miser
loves his money, but sometimes it
seems detrimental to his safety, and
as it is connected to his body with a
sort Of patent fastener arrangement
that becomes loosened with the slight
est muscular twitch it frequently
drops off, leaving the reptile in pain
full state of terminal decollete. When
once off the tail cannot be readjusted.
but nature is kind, and in coarse of
time new growth takes its place and
the lizard is made as good as new.
Mr.. Sturtevant, who lives in Sierra
Madre, Cal, at the foot of the Mount
Wilson trail, was camping in the noun
tains a short time ago, and tells the
following story of progressive trag-
edy which he witnessed in natures
auditorium, the actors being lizard,
some flies, cat and coyote.
- II
camp dinner, and after finishing my
coffee / tossed the sweetened grounds
on the grass at my feet. then lit my
pipe, settled myself as comfortably IS
my bowlder chair would permit, and
proceeded to enjoy the beauty and
fragrance of the great nature garden.
| and listen to the choral concert OF
stream and pines. No animate crea-
lures were in evidence, and I seemed
| to be the only living thing in the will
derness.
"Before long, however, prosperous
looking lizard crawled into the arena,
and for some time circled about with
indefinite intent. At last seeming the
sugared coffee grounds, he darted to
the banquet board and began to eat,
Every once in awhile, by way of va.
riety. he took in fly by suction.
"While the lizard was gorging on
flies and coffee, happily ignorant of i'm
pending danger. I saw an old cat creep
ing up, her tail nervously twitching
back and forth. and her mouth culver
ing in anticipation Of feast. At last
she gave swift spring, but in doing
so she madea slight noise that warned
the lizard. and quick as flash, while
the cat was yet in mid-air, the lizard
shuddered convulsively. dropped it's
tail as startled thief would drop his
booty, and scurried for the under
brush. The cat lit, and clutched the
abandoned tail, and the look Of aston
ishment 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 thetail with apparent relish:
and then went off short distance,
where she sat contentedly washing
her face.
"In a very short time the lizard came
from it's hiding place and glided all
about. as if hunting for its lost append
age. Every once in awhile it hest
tated, and blinked its eyes as if to KEEP
! back the tears, then continued the
search.
"About this time pussy had finished
her additions. and discovering the re-
turn of her victim, she pounced upon
the lizard, this time without cere.
monious preparation, and ate it up,
Then thoughthow strange it was the
power that had combined the lizard,
the flies and the cat.
"Not long afterwards I heard the
brush cracking and a series Of dis
tressed meows down the canyon.
PICKED up my gun and followed the
sounds, and when l arrived on the
seene found aIgreat sneaking coyote
just finishing my cat. Taking careful
aim I finished the coyote, and for the
first time in mylife obtained severa
species of game~lizard, flies, cat and
coyote-al with8one shot"