REPTILES 287 



forward, and the other two backward. This gives to it some- 

 what the appearance of a crab's pincers, and imparts to it, at 

 the same time, the grasping power of the hand. There is an 

 awkward stilted movement in the Hmbs of the chameleon, as 

 it unclasps its hold, extends the limbs, and fastens on to some 

 object. The tail is long and prehensile. 



Everybody knows that the chameleon has the power, 

 apparently depending on its volition, of changing its colour ; 

 but judging from the African specimens I have observed, there 

 seems to be a very limited choice of colour and of pattern. 

 The most common colours are green and yellow, and the 

 usual patterns are a yellow mottling on a green ground, or 

 dark green vertical patches or stripes with a yellow base line. 

 With the lantern light thrown on them on a dark night, 

 chameleons appear as plain whitish-yellow bodies among the 

 dark foliage. 



Natives have a superstitious dread of chameleons, and believe 

 their bite to be poisonous. It required a good deal of persuasion 

 to get any one to carry for me a small branch on which a 

 chameleon perched motionless ; but if the chameleon, disturbed 

 by the movement, began to walk towards the hand, the man 

 would drop the branch in fear and horror. When irritated or 

 frightened, the chameleon opens wide its jaws and utters a 

 hissing sound like "shah." If greatly annoyed, it will snap and 

 bite at the object held out to it ; but it is really very timid 

 and inoffensive, and all it desires, is to be left alone, to fulfil its 

 mission of clearing the world of flies and other insect pests. 



Lizards. — Judging from what I have seen, apparently a great 

 variety of species exist of the useful and harmless lizard. It is 

 a pleasure to watch the alert movements of their head, their 

 diligence in hunting down troublesome insects, their nimbleness 

 in darting on their prey, and the rapidity with which they race 

 up the perpendicular surface of a tree, rock, or wall. They have 

 to keep a sharp look-out for their own safety, for they are 

 evidently considered delicate morsels by more than one enemy. 

 I have often seen a hen catch a lizard, kill it by dashing it 

 repeatedly against the ground, and then swallow it whole. Some 

 of the lizards in these Protectorates are brilliantly coloured in 

 blue, orange, and red ; but many of the smaller, decked in 

 inconspicuous colours of grey and brown, are admirable in the 

 beauty of the patterns traced on them. 



