158 Chameleons. 



Crocodile and Lizard, which it sufficiently 

 resembles, save that its Head and Back is not 

 flat, like the Lizard's who has likewise much 

 shorter leggs, with which it crawls very fast along 

 the ground; whereas the Camelion has longer 

 leggs, and goes easily only upon Trees, where it 

 delights it self much more than on the ground ; 

 because, that as it is sayd it fears the serpents, 

 from which it cannot secure it selfe by flight, 

 and that from thence it spies them, watching the 

 opportunity when they do pass, or sleep under 

 him, to kill them with his Foam which he lets 

 fall upon them." Its "foam," however, does not 

 appear as its only weapon against " serpents"; 

 for our author, after correctly describing the 

 animal's teeth, which he says <f to us appeared not 

 at all serviceable to it in eating ; because that it 

 swallowed the Flyes and other insects which it 

 catched, without chewing them," adds, " ^Elian 

 says that it defends it self against the Serpent, by 

 the help of a great Stick which it takes in its 

 Mouth ; and its probable that its Teeth may serve 

 to hold it fast ; but it is to be understood that it 

 holds it cross-wise, to hinder the Serpent from 

 swallowing him up, as it usually do's Frogs and 

 Lizards whole ; For there is no possibility of 

 explaining this place of ^Elian as Gesner and 

 Aldrovandus do, who think that the Camelion 

 makes use of this Stick as of a Buckler or Sword 

 wherewith it defends it self against the Serpent as 

 a Fencer would do ; for it is not nimble enough for 



