C 195 ) 



It has been faid that the Chameleon has a power of afTimilating its colour 

 to that of the fubllance on which it is placed. This is not entirely true : 

 yet it feems to make fome approach to fuch a faculty ; fince the members 

 of the French Academy declare, that on wrapping a chameleon up in a linen 

 cloth for fome minutes, it appeared nearly white wlien taken out j but this 

 experiment did not fucceed when repeated afterwards. 



The lungs of the chameleon are extremely large, and it has a way of in- 

 flating its body, and appearing very plump and full for a long time together j 

 and at other times of contracting itfelf, fo as to appear in the highell degree 

 of extenuation. 



There prevails a popular error relative to this animal> which feems to have 

 been almoft univerfally received ; viz. that it requires no other nourifhment 

 than what it abforbs from the atmofphere, or in the ufual phrafe, that it feeds 

 on air. On the contrary, it is extremely adroit at catching infefts, which it 

 feizes by means of its tongue, which is of a very great length, and is retrac- 

 tile, like that of a woodpecker, and has a fort of widened tubular opening at 

 the end. This it darts upon infcds within its reach, and fwallov/s them with 

 a motion fo quick that the eye can fcarce follow it: and by this means it 

 fupports its exiilence. It is however true, that it can remain for a furprifing length 

 of time without any food, fo that the common idea is not without fome 

 foundation ; for a chameleon has been kept for the fpace of feveral weeks 

 without the leafl fuftenance whatfoever. 



The eyes of the chameleon are large and globular, but the part which is 

 cxpoied to view is very fmall, and confifts of a gold-coloured iris, with a 

 dark pupil. It has the power of turning its eyes in oppofite direftions, fo 

 as to look with one eye backwards and the other forwards, or with one eye 

 upwards and the other downv/ards at the fame time. The head is fometimes 

 very much crefted, and fometimes almoft plain. Th^ ftr-ucture of the feet is 



D d 2 fingularj 



