CHA *. fELE ONS. I 2 / 



formation of different parts of their bodies as for their remarkable 

 habits of life. 



Chameleons have compressed bodies ; the back round and 

 projecting, or rather pyramidal ; the skin granulated ; the head 

 angular, with salient occiput resting on a short and thick neck ; their 

 legs are slender ; the toes five in number ; the tail prehensile and 

 round. The eyes are very large and protruding, their globes covered 

 by a single shagreen-like eyelid, which the animal can dilate or 

 contract at will, and which almost hides the small aperture in the 

 centre, through which a brilliant eyeball can be perceived. The 

 eyes in the Chameleon, which have a singular mobility, are thus 

 completely enveloped, as if they were too delicate to sustain any 

 glaring light. By certain special muscular arrangements they have 

 the power to direct each eye on different objects even whether they 

 be above or below. It is thus a common saying in France, applied 

 to the Chameleon, "that it could look into Champagne and see 

 Picardy in flames." 



The vermiform and retractile tongue is also a most singular organ. 

 It is cylindrical, about six inches long, terminating in a fleshy, 

 dilatable, and somewhat tubular tip, which is covered with a glutinous 

 secretion, by the aid of which it seizes its insect food. The feet have 

 five very long almost equally strong hooked claws, and the skin of 

 the legs extends to their end, and unites them in a very peculiar 

 manner. Not only is this skin attached to each of the toes, but it 

 envelops them, and forms, as it were, two bunches the one of three 

 fingers, and the other of two. From this structure one can anticipate 

 the extreme difference which exists between the habits of Chameleons 

 and those of Lizards. These two bunches of long toes are placed in 

 such a manner as to enable them to seize the branches of the trees 

 on which they rest both with the fore and after part of the foot in the 

 same manner as woodpeckers, cuckoos, and parrots, while their long 

 and strong prehensile tail serves them as a fifth limb. Chameleons 

 are better able to preserve their equilibrium upon trees than upon the 

 ground ; thus doubtless accounting for their preference for the former. 

 Cautious, they move at all times very slowly, particularly when going 

 from one branch to another. Their prey and their enemies they can 

 see from a great distance. The latter they readily avoid. As to the 

 former, when the Chameleon arrives within range of the victim the 

 tongue is projected with unerring precision, returning into the mouth 

 with the prey adhering to the viscous tip. This tongue can be 

 extended to a length sometimes surpassing that of their body. The 

 skin of the Chameleon does not adhere to the muscles everywhere ; 



