Reptiles 



can exist for months without taking a morsel of food ; it 

 simply draws on the reserve fat in its tail. 



The most bizarre of all lizards are the chameleons. They 

 are tree-dwellers all and hopelessly at sea on the ground, 

 if we may so mix our metaphors. The chameleon leads 

 an apparently indolent life ; grasping some branch firmly 

 with its four-toed feet and steadying itself with its long 

 prehensile tail, it is the embodiment of immobility ex- 

 cept for its bulging, beady, swivel eyes. Let us examine 

 these eyes for a moment. They are almost uncanny in 

 their movements : one may look forward whilst its partner 

 glances backward ; now both are directed straight ahead ; 

 again, one surveys the sky the while the other scans the 

 earth ; they move as independently as a horse's ears and 

 are well adapted to the requirements of the immobile 

 chameleon, for they enable it to see in all directions 

 without the trouble of moving its position. 



The only time that the chameleon shows any signs of 

 activity is when an insect settles within its reach, then the 

 whole scene changes in a flash. It is patent that at long 

 last the animal is conscious of his surroundings ; maybe he 

 always is so, but he rarely gives any indication of it. The 

 swivel eyes are directed upon the prey and for some 

 moments the chameleon appears lost in contemplation ; 

 in reality he is taking the measure of his victim. The 

 reptile's mouth opens, and, with a rapidity that is 

 astounding, his long, wire-like tongue is shot out with 

 unerring aim and the luckless insect is conveyed to the 

 reptile's mouth on the sticky end of his tongue. The 

 lightning flash of the chameleon's tongue must be seen to 

 be believed, and though the reptile is known the world 

 over for his colour changes, changes, by the way, which are 

 much exaggerated, his method of capturing active insect 

 prey is far more remarkable than his change of hue. 



Snakes, so repulsive to most people, yet so attractive to 

 those who know them and have learned their habits, next 

 claim our attention. Many of them certainly are highly 



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