REPTILIAN LIVERIES. 155 



intensify the colour." The change of fleeting 

 colours from behind forwards is interesting, 

 because Eimer has noticed that the change in 

 permanent pattern of many reptiles also takes 

 place from behind forwards. 



It is the Chamseleon which is popularly supposed 

 to be the past master in the art of colour changes, 

 and certainly their reputation is justified. The 

 colour of the Common Chamseleon (Chamcdeon 

 vulgaris), Dr Gadow reminds us, is impossible to 

 describe, since the same specimen may appear 

 in half a dozen garbs in as many days. After 

 careful study for many months, when every 

 possible change and combination of colour seems 

 to have been exhausted, it will suddenly develop 

 a quite new combination. Individuals vary, 

 some change but slowly and seldom, others 

 frequently and rapidly. Some are much speckled, 

 others patched or streaked. In the dark they 

 appear generally to fade to a cream colour, but 

 this is not always the case; light focussed on 

 one side only, it is interesting to note, causes 

 that side to change in response, while the opposite 

 side of the body remains unchanged. Adaptation 

 to their immediate surroundings appear to take 

 place only to a modified extent, though, as a rule, 

 they appear to be brightest when amidst bright 

 green foliage. 



Some animals have acquired the mantle of 

 protective coloration, not so much for the shelter 

 it affords as for the purpose of approaching their 

 prey unobserved, like wolves in sheep's clothing. 

 This device is known as "aggressive resem- 

 blance." It is practised, it will be remembered, 



