78 SAURIA. CHAM^LEONID^. 



the superficial layer, or from its disappearance 

 beneath this layer. 



4. That these displacements of the deeper 

 pigment do in reality occur ; and it is a probable 

 consequence that the Chameleon's colour changes 

 during life, and may continue to change even 

 after death. 



5. That there exists a close analogy between 

 the mechanism by the help of which the changes 

 of colour appear to take place in these reptiles, 

 and that which determines the successive ap- 

 pearance and disappearance of coloured spots in 

 the mantles of several of the Cephalopods.* 



Whether this learned zoologist has set the 

 question completely at rest in these observations 

 or not, we may be permitted to doubt ; and to 

 inquire with Mr. Martin, "how the mechanical ad- 

 mixture of two pigments can produce the various 

 tints, exhibited at various times by the skin of 

 the Chameleon, as primary yellow, and red, yellow- 

 ish-grey, brown, and violet, or dull inky blue ? " 



The Chameleon is vulgarly reputed to feed on 

 air ; which absurd notion may have arisen from 

 its habit of frequently inflating its body to an 

 extraordinary degree, when it appears plump and 

 well-fed. The air penetrates even into the feet 

 and tail, increasing the bulk of the animal to 

 double its former size. At other times it be- 

 comes quite flaccid, and then has a dreadful 

 appearance of leanness, like that of a skeleton 

 enclosed in a loose skin. In this state the lungs 

 are very small, but when fully inflated, their 

 vesicles cover almost the whole of the viscera. 

 It feeds, like most other Lizards, on insects, to 

 * Ann. desSci. Nat. ; 1834. 



