438 CHAM-SXEONTIDiE. 



distinguished. Dentition acrodont ; teeth compressed, triangular, 

 more or less distinctly tricuspid. Palate tootliless. 



Eyes large, covered hy a thick granular lid pierced with a small 

 central opening for the ])upil. No tympanum, liody compressed ; 

 neck very short. Vertebrae prococliau. Abdominal ribs present. 

 Limbs long, raising the body. Digits arranged in bundles of two 

 and three ; in the hand, the inner bundle is formed of three, the 

 outer of two digits ; it is the reverse in the foot. Tail prehensile. 

 Head and body covered with granules or tubercles. 



Physiologically as well as anatomically Chamseleons stand by 

 themselves among Hep tiles, as is evidenced by the mobility and 

 independent action of their eyes, the projectility of their tongue, 

 the slow and deliberate movements of their limbs. The changeable 

 hues of the skin, first noticed in them, is a peculiarity shared by many 

 other Lizards, and to an equal, if not stronger, degree by Calotes. 



About one half of the species occur in ^ladagascar and neighbour- 

 ing islands, the other half in Africa ; the common Chama^leon is 

 Mediterranean, occtirring in Europe however only in Andalusia ; a 

 species inhabits Socotra, another South Arabia, and a third India 

 and Ceylon. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



Claws simple ; scales on soles smooth ; tail at least as long as the 

 body 1. Chamaeleon, p. 438. 



Claws simple ; scales on soles spinose ; tail shorter than the body. 



2. Brookesia, p. 474. 



Claws bicuspid ; scales on soles spinose ; tail shorter than the body. 



3. Rhampholeon, p. 475. 



1. CHAMiELEON. 



Chamaeleon, Lanr. Syn. Bept. p. 45, et omn. auct. 



Triceras, Fitzing. Syst. Rept. p. 42 ; Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, 



p. 477. 

 Furcifer, part., Fitzing. I. c. 

 Bradypodion, Fitzmy. I. c. p. 4.3. 

 Calyptrosaura, Gray, I. c. p. 468. 

 Erizia, Gray, I. c. p. 471. 

 Dilepis, Gray, I. c. p. 472. 

 Apola, Gray, I. c. p. 47."i. 

 Pterosaurus, Gray, I. c. 

 Microsaura, Gray, I. c. 

 Phumauola, Gray, I. c. p. 474. 

 Lophosam'a, Gray, I. e. 

 Archaius, Gray, I. c. p. 475. 

 Calumma, Gray, I. c. p. 476. 

 Crassonota, Gray, I. c. p. 477. 

 Ensirostris, Gray, I. c. p. 478. 

 Sauroceras, Gray, I. c. 

 Dicrauosaura, Gray, I. c. 

 Cvueosaura, Gray, I. c. p. 479. 



