208 ANIMAL SKETCHES. CHAP. 



two, the fourth and fifth fingers, are similarly bound 

 together. The two bundles are arranged in such a way 

 that the twig upon which the chameleon is climbing is 

 grasped between the bundle of three on the inner side, 

 and the bundle of two on the outer. In the hind-foot the 

 arrangement of the toes is similar ; only here it is the first 

 two digits, the great toe and its neighbour, that are bound 

 together on the inner side, the other three forming the 

 outer bundle. It is interesting to notice how, in that 

 remarkable climbing bird, the parrot, the feet are similarly 

 arranged for grasping. But the parrot has only four toes, 

 of which the two outer ones are directed backward and the 

 two inner ones forward. 



If you watch a parrot climb you will see that he uses 

 his beak as a third claw. But the chameleon is better off 

 still. In addition to his four grasping feet he uses his 

 tail. You never saw such a careful little fellow as he is. 

 He never moves a foot unless he is quite sure that the 

 other three feet have got a good hold and that the tail is 

 wrapped securely round the twig. And he seems never 

 quite to like leaving go at all with his tail. If you try 

 and unwrap his tail he will hiss at you and swear at you 

 in a quite terrifying fashion as much as to say, "How 

 dare you meddle with a dwarf- lion's tail ? " No : he always 

 likes to have a good firm grasp with his tail ; and he 

 never thinks of moving a hand until he has carefully con- 

 sidered whether it and each separate bundle of toes on 

 the three other limbs are all quite secure. That's what 

 makes him so slow and methodical in his gait. 



I have seen chameleons, however, wake up and become 

 preternaturally active. I had kept a chameleon for a long 

 time as the solitary occupant of a bough. Bringing home 

 a second, I placed him too on the same bough. The first 

 perhaps not unnaturally regarded him as an intruder. 



