In fact, I think this is the first time I've ever seen it.

Lizard sex that is.

I had just taken the goats down and tucked them in for the night when I heard a scuttling
noise beside the path. I stopped and looked until I saw the source. They were being very
still, hoping I wouldn't notice them. I could see a long banded tail, a dark grey head
but..what was that on it's back?

Slowly and carefully, I took a couple of steps back, then a few to the side to cut them off
from the mesquite bush they had been heading towards. Then I was close enough to see a
female Longnosed Leopard Lizard , with a darker, smaller male clinging to her back.
Aha! Lizard whoopee in progress!

I have been neglecting to tell you about some of the reptiles and amphibians who have
been showing up lately. The rain seems to bring out the toads. There are a couple of Red
Spotted Toads who visit on rainy evenings to catch moths under the porch light.

A couple of days ago I saw the biggest Texas Horned Lizard I've ever seen dash across
the yard. I had to chase him around for a few minutes to make sure I believed my eyes.
He was a good three inches long.

I used to catch tiny "horny toads" as a child visiting my grandparents in southern
Oklahoma, near the Texas border. If you catch them and turn them on their backs in
your hand and stroke their bellies, they go right to sleep. I must be getting old – I
couldn't catch this big guy.

Over by the truck a few days ago, I saw a young Desert Grassland Whiptail. Those aqua
tails, and in this youngster, an aqua head, too, are as bright and beautiful as gemstones.
They remind me of the Three Lined Lizards we had in Sapulpa, who also had a bright
blue tail, but were much smaller. I spent an entertaining morning watching one stalk and
capture flies. They were quite accustomed to humans, nearly tame from hanging around
the old house. These desert lizards allow me a bare glance, then ZOOM, they're off!

I left the Happy Honeymooners to their pleasure and walked on up towards the house. In
the distance I saw a big Turkey Vulture on the ground. About time he came down. He is
taking care of that jackrabbit we found the other day.

Death and life – vultures and lizard whoopee – all part of the great cycle.