34 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



D'Obsonville's remarks. 



and last of all green. At other times it becomes 

 green at once, and so of other colors when laid 

 on other grounds; whence it has been hastily 

 conjectured that the transition was always sud- 

 den. But, notwithstanding this irregularity in 

 its change, especially when hurried or disturbed, 

 its most permanent color, in repose, was that of 

 the ground on which it lay ; provided the ground 

 \\as not one of the colors that it never does as- 

 sume, of red or blue. Little material difference 

 was observable, whether the experiments were 

 made in the shade or in the sun ; but the animal 

 appears duller at some times than others, and 

 captivity seems to abate its alacrity in chang- 

 ing." 



D'Obsonville is of opinion that the color of 

 the cameleon is naturally green, that it is sus- 

 ceptible of many shades, and particularly of three 

 very distinct ones; Saxon green, deep green, 

 and a shade bordering on blue and yellow green. 

 When free, in health, and at ease, it is a beau- 

 tiful green, some parts excepted, where the skin, 

 being thicker and more rough, produces grada- 

 tions of brown, red, or light grey. When the 

 animal is provoked, in open air, and well fed, it 

 becomes blue-green ; but when feeble, or de- 

 prived of free air, the prevailing tint is the yel- 

 low-green. Under other circumstances, and es- 

 pecially at the approach of one of its own species, 

 no matter of which sex, or when surrounded and 

 teased by a number of insects thrown upon him, 

 5 



