178 



REPTILIA. 



PTVODACTYLI, 



Have the ends of the toes dilated into plates, the under surface striated, so as 

 to resemble a fan ; each toe has a strongly-hooked nail. In some, the toes 

 are free and the tail round. 

 We are compelled to establish 



FAMILY V. 



CHAM^ELEONIDA, 



FOR the single genus, 



CHAM/ELEO*, 



Or the Chameleons, which is very distinct from all other Saurian genera ; and 

 indeed there is some difficulty in introducing them. 



Their skin is roughened by scaly granules, their body compressed, and the 

 back if we may so express it trenchant ; tail round 

 and prehensile ; five toes to each foot, but divided 

 into two bundles, one containing two, the other three, 

 each bundle being united by the skin down to the 

 nails ; the tongue fleshy, cylindrical, and susceptible 

 of great extension; teeth trilobate; eyes large, but 

 nearly covered by the skin, except a small hole opposite 

 to the pupil, and possessing the faculty of moving 

 independently of each other ; no visible external ear, 

 and the occiput pyramidically elevated. Their first 

 ribs are joined to the sternum ; the following ones are extended each to its 

 fellow on the opposite side, so as to inclose the abdomen by an entire circle. 

 Their lungs are so enormous, that when inflated, their body seems to be trans- 

 parent, a circumstance wlu'ch induced the ancients to believe that they fed on 

 air. They live on insects, which they capture with the viscid extremity of 

 their tongue, the only part of their body which seems to be endowed with quick- 

 ness of motion, as in every thing else they are remarkable for their excessive 

 slowness. The great extent of their lungs is probably the cause of their faculty 

 of changing colour, which takes place, not as is thought in conformity with the 

 hue of the bodies on which they rest, but according to their wants and passions. 

 Their lungs, in fact, render them more or less transparent, compel the blood 

 in a greater or less degree to return to the skin, and even colour that fluid more 

 or less vividly in proportion to the quantity of air they contain. They always 

 remain on trees. 



Lac. africana, Gm. (The Common Chameleon.) The hood pointed and 

 relieved by a ridge in front ; the granules on the skin equal and close ; the 



\a/Mti>.iu* (Little Lion), the Grecian name of this animal. Aristotle, who uees it, 

 u also given an excellent description of it. Hist. An. lib. IT. rap. ix. 



