348 LEAVES FROM THE 



that equally inexplicable motions of the colouring parts of the 

 integument may also be detected in other classes than that in which 

 we have just described them, and thus a clue may be obtained 

 towards the explanation of the influence of geographical position 

 on the prevailing colours of the animal kingdom. 



This is a most seducing and interesting subject, well 

 worthy of consideration and further experiment ; but at 

 present we must return to our chameleons. Just see how 

 admirably the adaptation is carried on throughout. The 

 free foot, formed in some of the other lacertians for run- 

 ning nimbly over the sand or through the herbage, with 

 the aid of the disposition of the other limb bones, is here 

 changed into an organ essentially prehensile. The two 

 wrist-bones, which are next to those of the forearm, are 

 articulated upon one central piece, which receives the five 

 bones that correspond to the metacarpal. Three of these 

 are for the anterior toes, and two for the posterior ; and 

 the whole five finger-bones are bundled up in the integu- 

 ments to the claws, three in the fore bundle and two in 

 the hind bundle, forming a most efficient clinging instru- 

 ment when applied to the branch of a tree. The toes of 

 the hinder extremities are disposed in the same opposable 

 manner. The creature in its natural state, planted firmly 

 among the foliage, and holding tenaciously on by its feet 

 and tail, varying its colour at pleasure in the chequered 

 light and shade, looks more like an excrescence of the tree 

 than an animated being ;* and woe to the luckless insect 

 that, deceived by appearances, ventures within reach of 

 its unerring tongue. For, though the shortness of its 



* The Tarandus of Pliny will occur to those of our readers who 

 are conversant with his wonderful magazine, where the beast is 

 described as being as big as an ox, and, when he pleaseth, assuming 

 the colour of an ass. But this is but a small sample of his versa- 

 tility, for * he reflects the colours of all shrubs, trees, flowers, and 

 of the place where he lies, and hiding himself from fear, he is on 

 that account very rarely taken.' — Nat. Hist. viii. 34. 



