554 AMPHIBIALA. 



structure, the granules differing in size on different parts, from 

 that of a small pin's head to the diameter of the tenth of an inch, 

 or even more, especially on the edges of the projecting parts of 

 the head and jaws. Down the back runs a series of obscure den- 

 ticulations or slight projections, forming a carina on that part. 

 The feet consist each of five toes, three and two of which on each 

 foot are connate, or united as far as the claws by a common skin : 

 on the fore feet the two outward and three inward toes are united ; 

 and in the hind feet the two inward and three outward. The mo- 

 tions of the chameleon are extremely slow, and in sitting on a 

 branch, or in passing from one to another, it fastens itself by coil, 

 ing its tail round that from which it means to pass, till it has per- 

 fectly secured the other with its feet. 



The general or usual changes of colour in the chameleon, so far 

 as I have been able to ascertain from my own observation of such 

 as have been brought into this country m a living state, are from a 

 blueish ash-colour (its natural tinge) to a green and sometimes 

 yellowish colour, spotted unequally with red. If the animal be 

 exposed to a full sunshine, the unilluminated side generally ap- 

 pears, within the space of some minutes, of a pale yellow, with 

 large roundish patches or spots of red-brown. On reversing the 

 situation of the animal the same change takes place in an opposite 

 direction; the side which was before in the shade now becoming 

 either brown or ash colour, while the other side becomes yellow 

 and red ; but these changes are subject to much variety both as to 

 intensity of colours and disposition of spots. 



The following is the description given by the anatomists of the 

 French Academy : 



" The colour of all the eminences of our chameleon when it 

 was at rest, in the shade, and had continued a long time undis- 

 turbed, was a blueish grey, except under the feet, where it was 

 white inclining to yellow, and the intervals of the granules of the 

 skin were of a pale and yellowish red. This grey, which coloured 

 all the parts exposed to the light, changed when in the sun ; and 

 all the places of its body which were illuminated, instead of their 

 blueish colour, became of a brownish grey, inclining to a minime. 

 The rest of the skin, which was not illuminated by the sun, 

 changed its grey into several brisk and shining colours, forming 

 spots about half a finger's breadth, reaching from the crest of the 



