CHAMELEON. 



53 



of the colour- corpuscles are directed by two orders of nerves, 

 one causing their descending, and the other their ascending, 

 motions. In a state of extreme excitation the corpuscles hide 

 below the skin, and do so in sleep, anaesthesia, or death. 

 The nerves which cause the corpuscles to go under the skin 

 have the greatest analogy to vaso-con stricter nerves. They 

 follow the mixed nerves of the limbs, and the great sympathetic 

 of the neck, and do not cross in the spinal marrow. The 



CHAMELEON. 



nerves which bring the corpuscles upwards resemble in like 

 manner the vaso-dilator nerves. Luminous rays belonging to 

 the blue-violet part of the spectrum act directly on the con- 

 tractile matter of the corpuscles, and cause them to move 

 towards the surface of the skin." 



" Now, can you tell me the plain English of that ? " 



" Read it again, Jimmy," said Frank. 



Jimmy did so. 



" Well, I am no wiser. Read it again more slowly." 



Jimmy did so again. 



