Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1920-03-26
GREEN AND GRAY
w. J. HoXie

pupdS 10 Keep through IAS WllIOA.
They are really the same thing only
the puLIa is inside the cocoon which
is a fine silk wrapping to keep the
little baby moth or butterfly safe and
warm during it's winter sleep. 1t was
a brilliant sparkeling day but the
night had been quite cool almost
frosty. We found dead oak tree and
explored under the bark on the south
side for our butterflies and moths
like only the warm spots where the
sun shines and the moisture easily
dries. We found a moth for it had a.
tongue sheath" folded down one
side. The other-not so big,perhaps,
was only beetle but both wiggle a
littleso we saved them to await future
developments. Under the next piece
of bark was a gray lizard which Tom
my thought was dead but as we pull
: ed him off his claws seemed to try
to cling little SO put him in my
sleeve to TRIP and warm him.
Now is is not generally known that
this is very good way to tame wild
things, for if they 2re sick or wound
ed they smell the body scent of the
Iperson handling them, and that is
the first step toward mere intim-
ate acquaintance. We often bring
home young mice and squirrels that
way, 1t was not long before the little
lizard began to move, and we debated
whether to let him go or take him
home and try to have him pass the
winter with US. Tommy took a peep
at him and was delighted to find
he had turned from gray to green,
and so of course we decided to keep
him. AS we continued our Tambles
my lizard got quite lively and felt
queer and scratchy, going farther up
and last away around my back. /
bore with his capors 'for the good Of
the order" but was not very we'll
pleased with Tommy's next find
hich was a differant kind of lizard
and very rough AID gray too. Of
course we kept him for company for
the other. one, and the two at last
seemed to be playing tag all about
Up and down my back. 81
When we get home the question
was dicussed how to get them out
without hurting them, for was de-
ermined not to make myself nurs-
cry for orphan lizards any longer
than I could help. Sol sat me down
by a sunny window, and Tommy care
fully patted my back where he was
directed till first one then the other
peeped out from the back of my
neck and were "bridged over" on Tom
my's arm to the warm sunshine on
the glass. Here the first one caught
a fly and caught him Sc quickly and
neatly that there not the least .suspic
ion Of a tragedy, and Tommy at once
remarked that he was the incest beast
of prey she ever saw. Soon he col
ored wonderfully to dazzling shade
Of emerald green and raising his head
pulled out his crimson red throat
pouch in magnificent contrast to the,
rest of his gaudy livery. Tommy
slipped outside the window to get a
better view, and was charmed to find
that our other rough old gray fellow
was also gaiiy decorated on the unde
side but with pale blue instead Of red.
We kept our lizards all winter
ter. Never named them anything
but Green and Gray, though Tommy
studied my books and found out their
Latin names also, which, however,
he decided were much too long and
clumsy for general use. Green got
very tame and would take flies out of
our hands but Gray never did get so
familiar However he learned not to
scuttle for cover ct any little quick
motion, and would creep cautiously
up to his little feed of "buglcts'
which Tommy frequently collected
and put on the window-sill. When
we brought in a section of bark full
of wiggling worms and ants, the pair
: of them had a most festive meal to-
gether and they never quarreled over
(, it either.
When the warm spring days came
both our lizards went out doors.
Green took up his residence in some
small cracks and crannies round the
south door, while Gray probably lived
under the porch. His favorite place,
about noon, was on the piazza railing
where Green sometimes joined him
and puffed out his red balloon-like
throat for all to see and admire. Tom
my thinks they really knew each
other and, they tn certainly did get
to know their dinner call. Lay a
slab Of nice buggy bark" on the rail
and just tap sharply two or three
times and both would come scamper-
ing to the feast.