THE CHAMELEON. 



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head rests on a short thick neck ; the tail is round and 

 prehensile. The globe of each large, prominent eye is 

 covered with a single shagreen-like eyelid, which the 

 animal can contract or dilate at will ; and through a small 

 slit in the centre can be perceived a quick and vivid eye- 

 ball. Thus, the chameleon's eyes are completely enveloped, 

 as if unable to endure any glare of light. Moreover, they 



Cn.tMELEOK. 



are mobile to a degree. The mechanism which controls 

 them is such that they can both be directed on the same 

 or on separate objects ; and sometimes they are so turned 

 that one looks backward and the other forward, or while 

 one looks at things above the other gazes on things below. 

 This explains the French saying, that the chameleon can 

 look into Champagne, and see Picardy in flames. 



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