298 Mr Spittal on the Natural History 



, These quotations shew that the opinions of naturalists on this 

 subject are very various, and even contradictory. However, 

 with the exception of a few, including Dr Russell and Pliny, all 

 seem to agree, that the colour of the cameleon does not depend 

 on that of the body on which it happens to be placed. 



Dr Russell drew his conclusions from observing, that some- 

 times, while on a tree, the colour of the animal approached to 

 that of the bark ; and again, while on the grass, after some time 

 it became of a green hue. Now, these two colours are the most 

 usual, as far as our observation goes, which the cameleon as- 

 sumes, however situated. Coincidences such as these however, 

 we admit, are certainly liable to mislead, especially those, setting 

 about an inquiry of this nature, under the influence of a pre- 

 conceived theory. But indeed, Dr Russell at the same time ad- 

 mits, that the cameleon does not always assume the colour of 

 the ground on which it is placed, and states, that, when put in- 

 to a box lined with black, it sometimes became lighter in colour, 

 and vice versa when put into a white one. Another objection 

 to this theory is, that the cameleon retains its hue for some time 

 after removal from the spot where it had become of any par- 

 ticular colour, which could not be the case did it depend upon 

 the colour of surrounding objects. This fact we have often 

 noticed, and with the exception of the somewhat ridiculous opi- 

 nions of Linnaeus, Hasselquist, and Kircher, most of the authors 

 we have quoted, cither distinctly state, or from their observa- 

 tions on this subject entitle us to infer, that the lungs are the 

 principal agents in the production of the change of colour, their 

 action being apparently modified by the temperature of the air 

 — ^hght — passions or affections of the mind — state of health — 

 various wants — and perhaps other unknown causes. 



The opinion which we have adopted in a former part of this 

 paper, approaches to that of " the Cartesians," and also to a 

 certain extent agrees with those who believe that the colour de- 

 pends upon the quantity or tint of the blood sent to the skin at 

 different times. 



In endeavouring to reconcile these two opinions, we would 

 state, that it is evident, from the translucency of the skin, that 

 the blood must have its share in the production of colour ; but 

 we doubt whether, even by the modification of colour produced 



