ANOLIS (Anolius, Cuvier), a genus of Saurian Reptiles, belonging to that section of the Iguanias which Cuvier distinguishes by having teeth in the palate of the mouth as well as in the maxillary hones. They are readily distinguished from the Iguanias, properly so called, the liasilisks, and other genera of this division, by the peculiar form of the antepenultimate phalange of the toes, which is flattened beneath, and furnished with a kin() of pad or cushion, grooved or striated trans versely, and serving to make the animals adhere more firmly to those substances which they grasp in walking. In this particular point of their structure the Anolis approach the Geckoes, but it does not enable them to exercise the singular power of walking with the legs uppermost, like flies on a ceiling, which some of these reptiles possess. The toes, however, are much longer and better separated than those of the Geckoes, and the claws, instead of being short and flattened, are long, crooked, and sharp-pointed. The body and tail are long and slender, as are also the legs, particularly those behind, which are rather longer than the fore-legs. Each foot has five toes. The whole body and tail, both above and below, are covered irregularly with small round scales, which give the skin a granulated appeamneelike that of a fine shagreen.
The Anolis are entirely an American genus, and seem, in many respects, to supply in the New World the place which the Chameleons occupy in the Old. The colours of their skins change with the same or even greater rapidity, especially on the loose skin of the throat, which is constantly distended when these animals are actuated by strong pamionli, either of fear, anger, or love, and in this state they assume an endless succession of ever-varying hues. They differ from the Chame leons, however, in their more slender and graceful proportions, and in the great activity of their movements, displaying all the restlessness and celerity of the common green lizard of Europe. They frequent woody and stony situations indifferently, climb and leap with such swiftness and facility that their motion has been compared to the flight of a bird ; and, when overheated or fatigued by their exertions, will stop, open their mouths, and pant like a tired dog. They are extremely
timid and harmless, and feed for the most part upon flies and other small insects. There are two small sub-genera, distinguished from one another by the presence or absence of the carinated crest on the upper surface of the tail. The first of these divisions, comprehending those which have this crest, consists of a number of species definitely characterised by M. Cuvier, but formerly confounded under the denominations of Lacerta principalis and Lacerta bimaculata. The principal species are the following : 1. Anolius relifer, of Baron Cuvier, is of a beautiful (lark ashy-blue colour, and perhaps the largest of the whole genus, the body mealuring a foot in length, and the tail being about a foot and a half. The crest extends along the top of the tail for half its length from the origin, and is supported by from 12 to 15 rays. The loose skin beneath the throat extends from the chin even to the belly, and when not distended forms a longitudinal fold along the whole under-surface of the animal The food, from the observation of Baron Cuvier, would appear, at least occasionally, to consist of berries and other vegetable substances. It inhabits Jamaica and the Antilles generally, preferring the woods to the open country, and lodging in decayed trees or small crevices in the ground, where the female likewise deposits her eggs. It is incessantly in motion, and when pleased frequently emits a low but acute chirp ; though harmless and extremely timid, it possesses a considerable share of curiosity, and allows itself to be readily caught in little rush snares, which children in the West Indies amuse themselves by placing in its haunts, alluring it from its concealment by imitating its voice.