I am desperately trying to find a picture of the fashion trend for the turn of the century in which women would place an Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) on their lapel. The lizards were marketed as bugs or chameleons at different times starting around the turn of the century. Later, the fashion trend switched to the pet trade at side shows and circuses targeting children.
In both cases, the lizard was wearing a small collar with a chain that was attached to lapel with a safety pin in the case of children, or a lapel pin in the case of the women's fashion. I have found photos of the bug boxes in which the lizards were sold (in fact, as a child I had one of these boxes, woh is me that it is now gone!). There was also a fashion trend in Louisiana and other parts of the Southeast at least into the 1920s in which women/girls would wear a lizard in their hair. Believe it or not, the marketing ploy was that the lizard would change colors to match your outfit!!! Granted, a REAL Chameleon is capable of remarkable color and pattern matching often nearly instantaneoulsy, but the Anoles they were marketing go from Green to brown and the color has more to do with temperature, stress and mood (do lizards have moods? Maybe i'm being anthropomorphic there, but you get the vibe!) than to do with their surroundings. Anyway, any images or help would be greatly appreciated!!!!! Malcolm -- Malcolm L. McCallum, PHD, REP Link to online CV and portfolio : https://www.visualcv.com/malcolm-mc-callum?access=18A9RYkDGxO “Nothing is more priceless and worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature lovers alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans.” -President Richard Nixon upon signing the Endangered Species Act of 1973 into law. "Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" - Allan Nation 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. 2022: Soylent Green is People! The Seven Blunders of the World (Mohandas Gandhi) Wealth w/o work Pleasure w/o conscience Knowledge w/o character Commerce w/o morality Science w/o humanity Worship w/o sacrifice Politics w/o principle Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
