aught by a shining object
that moved along the wrinkled bark of the liana. As the vine was nearly
a foot in diameter, and of a deep ferruginous colour, this object was
the more apparent against its dark ground, for it was a creature of
brilliant hues. It was an animal of the lizard species; and if any
lizard could be considered beautiful, this one might have been so
called. But the hideous, half-human form of these animals, their
piercing looks, their stealthy and predatory habits, and, above all, the
knowledge that the bite of several of their species is poisonous,
combine to render them objects that excite disgust and awe, rather than
admiration.

This one, as we have already said, was of the most brilliant colour.
The whole of its upper surface was a golden green, vivid as the hues of
an emerald; while its body underneath was greenish-white. But this
part, as it lay along the liana, was not seen; and a pure, uniform green
was the apparent colour of the whole animal. There was one conspicuous
exception--the throat. This was swollen out, as though by inflation,
exhibiting a surface of the brightest scarlet, that appeared in the sun
as if painted with vermilion. The eyes of the animal shone like flame--
for the irides were, in fact, the colour of burnished gold, with small
pupils, sparkling like diamonds, in their midst. Its arms and limbs
were of the same colour as the body; and its branching feet exhibited
the peculiarity of having small knots or tubercules at the ends of the
toes. These tubercules, together with the loose dewlap of the throat,
told the genus to which the animal belonged,--an _anolius_ of the family
_Iguanidae_, and the only species of the anolius found in the territory
of the United States.

These facts were communicated by Lucien to his brothers in a whisper,
while they were observing the creature on the liana. Basil and Francois
had often seen the species before, and were familiar with it under the
names of "green lizard" and "chameleon,"--both of which names are
applied to it in common phraseology. The animal was not over six inches
in length; and its long coffin-shaped head, and slender, whip-like tail,
were at least two-thirds of this extent. When first noticed, it was
passing up the liana, for the latter slanted upwards between the trees.
It did not see the boys; or, at all events, did not regard their
presence--for the chameleon is a bold little animal, and is not afraid
of man.