THE LIZARD On a large rock not far from the
water I had regularly seen one or two lizards basking, although•
I had never managed to get within three or four yards of them before they were off. Lizards have incredible speed and move with a smoothness that is fish-like, but, like old men, they love warm sun, peace and quiet. On this occasion 1 didn't notice the usual scuttle for shelter, and when I reached the rock I found one small lizard sheltering under the leaves of a foxglove. Perhaps he fancied himself well hidden and it was certainly not very kind of me to take him by the tail and bring him out into the sunlight for examination. Inexperienced in finding shelter he may have been, but instinct came to his aid, and he 'died,' so that when I placed him on either his feet or his back his tail remained in the same curve and he showed not the slightest sign of life. At length a splash of water from the stream fell upon him and he 'recovered.' It was a wonderful recovery. One moment he was on his back, a mini- ature prehistoric creature modelled, in clay with its feet sticking up, and the next he was across the rock, over a tussock and into a tall forest of heather. As the old lady in the village said of her erring husband,
'I never see'd the goin' of 'im!'
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