400 THE CIIAMELION. 



although loftier, can scarcely make an equal impression ; 

 they lie further to the north, without the belt of tropical 

 growths, and their sides are dreary and sterile in com- 

 parison. You remember Orizaba,' continued he: 'here 

 is an engraving from a rude sketch of mine. I hope 

 you will find it correct.' He rose and took down the 

 illustrated folio which accompanied the last edition of 

 his 'Minor Writings,' turned over the leaves, and re- 

 called at each plate, some reminiscence of his American 

 travel. ' I still think,' he remarked, as he closed the 

 book, ' that Chimborazo is the grandest mountain in the 

 world.' 



" Among the objects in his study was a living chame- 

 lion, in a box with a glass lid. The animal, which was 

 about six inches long, was lazily dozing on a bed of 

 sand, with a big blue fly (the unconscious provision for 

 his dinner) perched upon his back. 'He has just been 

 sent me from Smyrna,' said Humboldt; 'he is very list- 

 less and unconcerned in his manner.' Just then the 

 chamelion opened one of his long, tubular eyes, and 

 looked up at us. 'A peculiarity of this animal,' he con- 

 tinued, ' is its power of looking in different directions at 

 the same time. He can turn one eye towards heaven, 

 while his other inspects the earth. There are many 

 clergymen who have the same power.' 



" After showing me some of Hildebrand's water-colour 

 drawings, he returned to his seat and began to converse 

 about American affairs, with which he seemed to be 

 entirely familiar. He spoke with great admiration of 

 Col. Fremont, whose defeat he profoundly regretted. 

 ' But it is at least a most cheering sign,' he said, ' and an 

 omen of good for your country, that more than a half 



