Chameleons. 159 



that." Of its method of progression we are told 

 "Its pace was slower than that of a Tortoise, 

 and seemed very Ridiculous, in that its Leggs 

 being not short and incumbered like those of the 

 Tortoise, but very loos and free, it carried them 

 with a kind of gravity which seemed affected, 

 because needless. Wherefore Tertullian saith that 

 one would think that the Camelion rather made as 

 if it would walk than that it really did. Some do 

 think that this Gate is a Mark of the Timerousness, 

 which is said to be very extream in this Animal. 

 But because it is certain that Fear, when it is not 

 great enough wholly to take away Motion, adds 

 great Strength to that of the Leggs ; into which 

 it is believed that it makes all the Heat and 

 Vigour, which has left the Heart to descend. It 

 is much more probable that this slowness is the 

 effect of a great Precaution, which makes it to act 

 circumspectly." Of the ultimate fate of the 

 chameleon in question we are told nothing 

 directly ; but no doubt it fell a victim to science, 

 as we know that " after it was dead" it was 

 most carefully dissected, and drawings of its 

 skeleton and viscera have been handed down to 

 us. That no part of it was wasted we gather 

 from the concluding sentences of the treatise, 

 which are as follows : " As for the Knowledge 

 of the incredible Virtues which the Superstition 

 of the ancients hath attributed to the Camelion 

 .and of which Pliny saith that Democritus hath 

 writt a whole Book, they are so Extravagant in 



