294 Miscellaneous. 



It has generally been imagined that the purpose of this singular 

 faculty accorded to the Chamseleon is to enable it to accommodate its 

 appearance to that of surrounding objects, but the observations of 

 Van der Hoven seem to negative that idea, and the few experiments 

 I have made vs^ith that ^iew have not led to any such results. The 

 box in which it is kept is of deal, with a glass at the top and a 

 piece of flannel laid at the bottom ; a small branching stick being 

 introduced by way of a perch. I have introduced at various times 

 pieces of coloured paper, covering the bottom of the box, of blue, 

 yellow and scarlet, but without the slightest effect upon the appear- 

 ance of the animal. Considering that these primary colours were 

 not such as it would be likely to be placed in contact with in a state 

 of nature, I next tried a piece of green calico, but equally without re- 

 sult. The animal went through all its usual changes, without their 

 being in any way modified by the colours placed underneath it. The 

 general tints approximate, as may readily be observed, to those of the 

 branches of trees, just as those of most animals do to the places in 

 which they dwell ; but I have never seen the faculty of changing 

 called into play with any apparent object. It is only when the light 

 is removed that the animal assumes a colour which absorbs but little 

 of it. 



Regretting that I have not been able to attain any more definite 

 conclusions, I offer these few remarks, hoping that to some naturalist, 

 who may undertake the investigation of these singular phaenomena, 

 they may prove not to have been thrown away. — Proc. Zool. Soc. 

 July 22, 1851. 



Notes on a new species of Artamus, from India. 

 By Dr. Nicholson. 



These birds are only found in very thick jungles among the brush- 

 wood, where they are always moving about, and are shot with great 

 difficulty, and even then, if not killed outright, they are so tenacious 

 of life, that they creep into the first hole or crevice they come to. 

 The only note I ever heard was like ' chick, chick.' I think they 

 are residents, but the few I have seen just appear and are lost again 

 in a moment, so that I know little of their habits ; the one described 

 here had one leg and both wings broken, and still crept into the hole 

 of a jerboa-rat, from which I dug it out dead. 



Male : weight 6^ oz. 



Length from bill to tip of tail 7f inches. Alar extent 10 inches. 



Head large. Bill strong, narrow and sharp, gently arched on the 

 culmen ; a distinct notch near the tip of upper mandible ; gape wide. 

 Tongue homy and divided at the point. Nostrils basal, small. Eye 

 rather small. Iris of a silvery colour, tinged with yellow. 



Wings rounded ; first quill very short ; third longest ; second, 

 third and fourth quills emarginate on outer web. 



Tail short, and nearly even at the end, of twelve feathers, 2f inches 

 long. 



Tarsus strong. Hallux and claw stronger than the other toes, and 



