NATURAL HISTORY. 



Tribe V DENDROSAUKA. (Gr. bevdpov, a tree ; aavpa.) 



Family XXV. Chameleonidse. (Gr. 'S.a/uatl.tuv, a Chameleon. Cha- 

 meleon kind.) 



CHAMELEON. 



i 



; (Lat. com:no)i), the Chameleon. 



other insects with such marvellous rapidity, that the ancients 

 may be well pardoned for their assertion that the air formed 

 the only food of the Chameleon. 



Highly exaggerated descriptions have been given of the 

 changes of colour in this animal. The changes are by no 

 means so complete, nor are the colours so bright, as generally 

 supposed. 



" And then its hue, 



Who ever saw so fine a blue?" 



The poetic moralist further recounts its changes to green, 

 black, and white. The umpire referred to in the poem is re- 

 corded to assert, 



" If you don't find him black, I'll eat him ;" 



but every one who has watched a Chameleon for any time, will 

 be equally ready to eat him the moment that he turns white. 



The power of the Chameleon to move its eyes in different 

 directions, gives it a most singular aspect. Its enormously long 

 tongue can be withdrawn into the mouth when not in use, but 

 when the creature sees a fly within reach, the tongue is instant- 

 ly darted forth, and by means of a gummy secretion at the tip 

 secures the fly. The whole movement is so quick as almost to 

 elude the eve. 



