Chameleons. 161 



the sight of what it considers a toothsome insect. 

 Nevertheless, they are by no means uninteresting 

 animals, and when allowed to wander at large and 

 forage for themselves in a greenhouse they are 

 a constant source of amusement. The chameleon's 

 method of taking its prey is very curious, being" 

 effected by shooting out an enormously long 

 wormlike tongue, the end of which is clubbed, 

 and covered with a viscid secretion, to which the 

 insects stick, and are thus drawn into its mouth. 

 The actual projection of the tongue is made with 

 marvellous rapidity, but, before striking, the 

 animal very slowly opens its mouth, with all the 

 appearance of taking a most deliberate aim. Its 

 eyes are most noticeable; they are very large, 

 but with the exception of an extremely small 

 opening in the centre, are covered with skin ; 

 they are also entirely independent of one another, 

 with the result that occasionally the creature is 

 looking forward over its nose with one eye, while 

 with the other it is intently watching something 

 directly behind it. And, finally, its far-famed 

 power of changing colour which, as we have said 

 is also enjoyed by other lizards is perhaps the 

 most noticeable of the creatures many peculiarities. 

 It is " partly dependent on the degree in which 

 the lungs are filled with air, and different layers 

 of chromatophores (cells in the skin in which the 

 colouring pigment is deposited) are pressed towards 

 the outer surface of the skin." It appears to be 

 produced partly at the will of the animal and 



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