338 LEAVES FROM THE 



approaching somewhat to a green, sometimes to a lighter ; 

 at which time it was more inclined to a white than a 

 yellow. He did not observe that it assumed any more 

 colours; such as red, blue, purple, &c. ; and, for that 

 reason, was inclined to believe that all which has been 

 said concerning the changing and shifting of colours in 

 this animal, consisted only in this, that on certain occa- 

 sions it changes the dark colour, which seems to be 

 natural to it, into yellow of various shades. He observed 

 that his reptile more particularly did it on two occasions ; 

 one was, when he exposed it to the hot beams of the 

 sun ; and the other, when he made it angry by pointing 

 at it with his finger. When it was changing from black 

 to yellow, the soles of its feet, its head, and the bag under 

 its throat, began first to alter, — an alteration which was 

 afterwards continued over the whole body. He saw it 

 several times speckled, or marked with large spots of 

 both colours over the whole body, which gave it an 

 elegant appearance. When it was of an iron-gray colour, 

 it extended its sides or ribs and hypochondria, which 

 made the skin sit close to the body, and it appeared 

 plump and handsome ; but, as soon as it turned yellow, 

 it contracted those parts, appearing thin, empty, lean, 

 and ugly; and the nearer it approached in colour to 

 white, the emptier and uglier it seemed ; but it ap- 

 peared worst, in regard to shape, when it was speckled. 



Hasselquist kept this creature alive from the 8th of 

 March to the 1st of April, without affording it an oppor- 

 tunity of taking any food. This is much to be regretted, 

 because, in its native climate, there can be little doubt 

 that, from its vivacity, it would have fed freely, and the 

 powers of abstinence of the animal had been tested again 

 and again. Notwithstanding its fast, it was nimble and 

 lively during the greater part of the time, climbing up 

 and down in its cage, fond of being near the light, and 

 constantly rolling its eyes. At last Hasselquist could 



