It passed to the opposite side of the liana, and then proceeded upward, making for the nest of the tarantula.

It reached this point by a single run, although its back was downward as it crawled.
This it could easily do by means of the tubercules upon its toes--which enable lizards of the genus anolius to walk upon perpendicular walls, up glass windows, or along the smoothest ceilings.
For some moments it lay quiet in a crouching attitude, waiting the approach of the spider, that, busied with his own affairs, did not dream of a lurking foe so near him.

The tarantula was, no doubt, in high spirits at the moment, exulting at the prospect of the banquet of blood he should have, when he had carried the ruby-throat to his dark, silken cave.

But he was destined never to reach that cave.

When he had got within a few inches of its entrance, the chameleon sprang out from the limb, seized the spider in his wide jaws, and all three--lizard, spider, and bird--came to the ground together.