148 CHAMELEOX, GHtKO. 



THE CHAMELEON, 



So often mentioned by the poets, is a native of India, 

 Africa, and the warmer parts of Spain and Portugal. 

 This animal has the singular property of changing its 

 colour from bluish green or grey, to yellowish green and 

 yellow. These changes appear to depend on the different 

 states of the body, the first mentioned belongs to its most 

 healthful condition. The animal is about ten inches long, 

 very thin, of a ghastly form, and covered all over with a 

 kind of wart. Its tail is long and prehensile. Its tongue 

 can be extended or withdrawn at pleasure ; it is used to 

 catch the insects on which the chameleon feeds. This 

 animal can remain a very long time without food, from 

 which circumstance it has been falsely said that it can live 

 on air alone. The toes of each foot are divided into two 

 divisions, so that it can completely clasp a branch, &c. 

 The chameleon is quite harmless. 



THE GECKO 



Is a native of Africa, and the warmer parts of Asia and 

 Europe. It is said to derive its name from its voice, which 

 is like the word uttered in a shrill tone. Its length is 

 rather more than a foot ; it is of a thicker and stouter form 

 than most lizards, has a flat triangular head covered with 

 scales, a wide mouth, large eyes, small teeth, and a broad 

 flat tongue ; the limbs are well proportioned, and the feet 

 broad ; the tail is generally longer than the body, and is 

 marked in regular divisions like joints. The general 

 colour of the animal is a pale brown with a few dusky blue 

 variegations, but its colours brighten very much in tropical 

 regions. The gecko inhabits dark holes, caverns, old 

 walls, hollow trees, &c. ; it is chiefly seen abroad in rainy 

 weather. It is thought to be poisonous on account of a 

 caustic fluid oozing from its feet, and adhering to any fruit 

 or other eatable over which it may happen to pass, and 

 which if swallowed causes unpleasant symptoms. 



