11 



colour. In general, when any particular change was 

 effected, two longitudinal rows of light spots first made 

 their appearance ; and although these particular parts 

 of the body assumed a variety of shades, perfectly dis- 

 tinct from each other, yet it seldom happened that we 

 could not distinguish the two rows as presenting a 

 shade different from the rest. 



" The chameleon sometimes assumed a colour re- 

 sembling lead or zinc, but rather of a darker blue ; 

 when of this tint, there were no spots visible on any 

 part of the body, and this was the only shade observed 

 to be void of spots : when the general colour was like 

 coal or coal-dust, the animal had brass- coloured spots 

 of various sizes, sometimes arranged in rows, and 

 sometimes scattered; the tail was then alternately 

 marked by rings of the two colours. Though sometimes 

 considerably irritated when food was given, no change 

 of colour ensued. The chameleon seemed to be most 

 offended at one of the tortoises that came in contact 

 with it on the footpath, and, when first observed, the 

 tortoise was creeping unceremoniously over it ; yet 

 though, in this case, the creature was comparatively in 

 the dark, the colours were in most conspicuous array. 

 In candle-light it was of a dirty white, resembling 

 mortar. The chameleon was once placed on a scarlet 

 silk handkerchief, in sunshine, out of doors, and re- 

 mained on it for 15 or 20 minutes without any change 

 having taken place. It was afterwards carried into the 

 shade, and put on the ground, from whence it moved 

 away very slowly, and soon became of a very light 

 green, with numerous dark green spots, which disap- 

 peared when it came into sunshine." 



Mr.Neill observes, that it was fed chiefly with sclaters 

 ( Oniscus ascellus) or centipedes (Scolopendra forficata), 

 and the small translucent lumbrici, or earth-worms 

 B 6 



