350 LEAVES FROM THE 



I have frequently seen chameleons take their food, 

 although I never could succeed in inducing my own to 

 break its fast. When one of them is about to feed, it 

 rolls its shagreen eyeball till the pupil is brought to bear 

 upon the intended victim. Motionless and patient, the 

 reptile waits till the insect arrives within distance. Then 

 the extensile tongue is protruded with unfailing aim pre- 

 cisely to the extent required, and is retracted with the 

 prey. I have seen them take mealworms frequently. 

 When two mealworms were placed before a chameleon, 

 one on one side and one on the other, at different dis- 

 tances, the eye of each side was levelled at the adjacent 

 insect; and though the eyes were necessarily looking in 

 different directions, the tongue did its duty upon both, 

 one after the other, when they came within reach. The 

 motion of extension and retraction was not very rapid, but 

 it must be remembered that those seen by me were in 

 confinement in this country. 



So extraordinary a shape was not likely to be passed 

 over by the ancients, without attributes as odd as the 

 animal itself ; and Democritus seems to have revelled in 

 the marvellous qualities possessed by its several parts. 

 Thus, we are told that this remarkable tongue, ' pulled 

 out of the head whiles the chamseleon is quicke, pro- 

 miseth good successe in judiciall trials,' — in compliment, 

 doubtless, to the lawyers, who 



Can with ease 

 Twist words and meanings as they please, 



but are as unerring as the chameleon's organ in securing 

 the substantial part of the litigation. 



There is not a creatui'e in the world thought more fearful! than 

 it ; which is the reason of that mutability whereby it turneth into 

 such varietie of colours : howbeit of exceeding great power against 

 all the sortes of hawkes or birds of prey ; for, by report, let them 

 fly and soare never so high over the chamseleon, there is an 

 attractive vertue that will fetch them downe, so as they shall fall 

 upon the chamseleon, and yeeld themselves willingly as a prey to 

 be tome, mangled and devoured by other beasts. 



