THE CAMELEON. 



405 



long they could live, kept four of them in a 

 cage, permitting them at times to run about 

 the house. The fresh sea-breeze seemed to give 

 them most spirits and vivacity ; they opened 



each furnished with a sharp claw. Another of the same 

 kind was afterwards killed in that county: but whether 

 these large lizards were natives of other countries, and 

 imported into England, or whether they were of British 

 growth, is uncertain, though the former is more probable, 

 as in this country they scarcely ever exceed six inches. 

 This species has a pretty long verticulated tail, with 

 sharp scales, and a scaly collar. 



The green lizard of Carolina is denominated from its 

 colour. It is very slender ; the tail nearly double the 

 length of the body ; and the whole length above five 

 inches. It inhabits Carolina, where it is domestic, 

 familiar, and harmless. It sports on the tables and 

 windows, and amuses with its agility in catching flies. 

 Cold affects its colours; in that uncertain climate, when 

 there is a quick transition in the same day from hot to 

 cold, it changes instantly from the most brilliant green 

 to a dull brown. They are a prey to cats and ravenous 

 birds. They appear chiefly in summer ; and at the ap- 

 proach of cold weather they retire to their winter 

 recesses, and lie torpid in the holes and crevices of hol- 

 low trees. It frequently happens, that a few warm sun- 

 shiny days so invigorate them, that they will come out 

 of their holes and appear abroad ; when on a sudden the 

 weather changes to cold, they become so feeble as to be 

 unable to return to their retreats, and consequently ex- 

 pire. 



The Nimble Lizard. This elegant little creature, 

 which is known in almost every part of the temperate 

 regions of Europe, seems to be the most gentle and in- 

 offensive, and at the same time, the most useful of all the 

 lizard tribe. It is fond of basking in the sun ; but, un- 

 able to bear extensive heat, in the hottest weather it 

 seeks for shelter. In spring, during fine weather, it 

 may sometimes be seen luxuriously extended on a 

 sloping green bank, or on a wall exposed to the sun. In 

 these situations it enjoys the full effects of the reviving 

 warmth, expressing its delight by gently agitating its 

 slender tail ; and its lively and brilliant eyes are ani- 

 mated with pleasure. Should any of the minute animals, 

 on which it feeds, appear, it springs upon them with the 

 quickness of thought ; and if any danger occurs, the 

 creature itself seeks a more secure retreat with equal 

 rapidity. On the least noise it turns suddenly round, 

 drops down, and seems, for a moment, perfectly stupified 

 by its fall ; or else it suddenly shoots away among the 

 bushes or thick grass. Its wonderful rapidity of motion 

 is chiefly to be observed in warm countries, for in the 

 temperate regions its evolutions are much more languid. 

 This gentle and peaceful animal excites no sensations of 

 terror ; and, when taken into the hand, makes not the 

 smallest attempt either to bite or offend. In some 

 countries, children use it as a play-thing ; and, in con- 



their months to take it in ; he never perceived 

 that they eat any thing, except now and then 

 a fly, which they took half an hour to swal- 

 low : he observed their colour often to change, 

 three, or four times successively, without being 

 able to find out any cause for such alterations ; 

 their common colour he found to be gray, or 

 rather a pale mouse colour ; but its most fre- 

 quent changes were into a beautiful green, 

 spotted with yellow; sometimes the animal 

 was marked all over with dark brown ; and 

 this often changes into a lighter brown : some 

 colours, however, it never assumed ; and con- 

 trary to what was said above, he found red to 

 be amo-ng the number. 



Though our traveller took the utmost care, 

 he was unable to preserve any of them alive 

 above five months ; and many of them died in 

 four. When the cameleon changes place, and 

 attempts to descend from an eminence, it 

 moves with the utmost precaution, advancing 

 one leg very deliberately before the other, 

 still securing itself by holding whatever it 

 can grasp by the tail. It seldom opens its 

 mouth, except for fresh air ; and when that 

 is supplied, discovers its satisfaction by its 

 motions, and the frequent changes of its colour. 

 The tongue is sometimes darted out after its 

 prey, which is flies ; and this is as long as the 

 whole body. The eyes are remarkably little, 

 though they stand out of the head ; they have 



sequence of its natural gentleness of disposition, it be- 

 comes in a great measure tame and familiar. 



The Sand Lizard. This species is found on sandy 



heaths in some parts of England. Its colour is in general 

 brown, and its length seven inches. It is more sluggish 

 than the common lizard, and will attempt to bite any one 

 who handles it. 



The Frilled Lizard, of which the following cut re- 



presents the figure, is a curious species found in Austral!? 

 Little is known of its habits. 



