The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-01-03
QUEER LlzskDd
These Have the Power 81

These Have the Power s. spou
Blood From the Eyed.
That certain lizards have Ale ~
to emit a stream of blood -
eyes has been a tradition of
west from time out of mind, S5r
scientists have classed it with tn
ell in the toad's head and thee
snake. Raymond Lee Ditmars, cturatON
of reptiles in the New York geological
society, made exhaustive reseae ch to
ascertain what foundation in fbct, if
any, there is in the tradition ,bf the
blood spouting lizards. He had hearty
made up his mind that II was burely
mythical when he came upon o. star
Ting demonstration OF its trutlh He
had received Il particularly fine sBssi.
men of the Mexican horned lizard and
after photographing it proceeded to
measure 1t. The result he tells in his
Reptile Book
"The latter process" he says, 1'seem.
ed to greatly excite the creatulre Il
finally threw the head slightly up
ward, the neck became rigid, thd eyes
bulged from the sockets, when theirs
was q distinct sound like thak orc.
duced if one pressed the ttongue
against the roof Of the mouth anc
forced small quantity of air FORWARD.
This rasping sound, consuming blht the
fraction of a second, was accompanied
by jet Of blood at great pressure.
ut nit the wall four feet away az
the same level as that of the reptile
The duration of the flow of bloR an
peared to be about one and a
seconds, and toward its termi
the force gradually diminishe
noted by course Of drops dow
wall and along the floor to q. pG
almost under the spot where the
tile had been held. The stream
blood seemed to be as fine as holA
hair and to issue from the eye&
which was momentarily much swolA
"For some time after the perfoN
ance the eyes were tightly closed,
nothing could induce the lizard to d
them. Within two minutes aftels
was placed on the ground the protk
ing aspect of the eyeballs and
swelling of the eyelids had dig
peared.
"AIost surprising was the amouas
blood expended. The wall and ii
showed course Of thiclly sprinla
spots about one-eigbth OF an inchf
diameter. There were 103 of tlR
Epots."-Philadelphia North Amerit
isaac and the Angel.
Old Isaac was devout Christian.
was his custom when his work u
done to retire to his cabin and de-
himself to worship until bedtime. 3
earnest and frequent announceme,
that he was always ready to meet
''Lawd'' had been so often heard tH.e1s'
some boys decided to test Isaac's faith.
One hight, while he was under full
Roadway: 80 Lawd, we know dy long
suf'rin' fur dis beni'ted sinner, but we
feel, o Lawd, dat in dy love we will be
spahed dy vanglns and raj. We are ale
ways reddy. Lawd. at dy biddin' to
cum and meet dy angel Gabriel Send
him, O Lawd, wild his shinin' trumpit,
his robes OBJ glory and his crown OBJ.
life, and take dy poh sahvant into dy
vineyard
isaac! Isaac!' came in deep sen I
chral tones down the chimney n
"Amen" softly said Isaac, closifj
his prayer abruptly and rising. wit
fear and trembling
isaac! Isaacw came the still dread
full tones.
"Who-ho-ho's dat?' stammered the
awe stricken negro.
''The angel of the Lord has come for
Isaacw
Isaac hesitated. and then, with a
show Of enforced courage, it came:
"De Lawd bless you, dat old nigS/
hain't been here for n week"