EAST AFRICAN LIZARDS. 965 



Chameleon DiLErsis DiLEPSis Leach. 

 Bigr. Cat. Liz. iii. 1887, p. 450. 



Twenty-six specimens from Kilosa, Ikikuyu, Mt. IIundun«^ula 

 Itende, Pvvaga, Mba]a, Mtali's, and Tabom. ° ' 



The largest female measured 14 inches (184 -f 172). 



Mating takes place in the January and TTebruary (22. ii, 23) 

 rains. TJie following note, taken direct from my diary, is of the 

 pairing of a female whose hind-limbs and part of toil appeared 

 partially paralysed, therefore what occurred may be somewhat 

 abnormal. 



Kilosa, 19. i. 21, There were some four chameleons in my 

 vivarium, when a native brought me a large female (160-K182), 

 which was introduced into the case at 7.30 a.m. 



7.45 a.m. I noticed she was on a branch facing a male ; he was 

 raising his occipital flaps from time to time ; both had 

 their throats vertically dilated. She leaned forward and 

 bit him gently about the neck and head. Pairing I imagine 

 took place shortly after. 

 8.15 a.m. As I was passing the case I noticed she was lying 

 almost on her back except the posterior part which was 

 horizontal. The male chameleon had his bead entirely 

 underneath lier or buried in the grass. 



Her right fore-leg grasped his right hind-leg. 

 His right hind-leg grasped her body. 

 His left hind-leg gripped round her tail, which he kept 

 working to and fro, not moving himself. 

 His right fore-leg grasped her side. 

 His left fore-leg was in the grass. 

 8.21 a.m. She moved now and then, but except for the move- 

 ment of his leg, he was motionless. 

 8.25 a.m. While continuing to grasp his hind-leg she bites feebly 

 at him, turns slightly and grasps his back on the vertebral 

 line in the lumbar region with her left fore-leg. 

 8.27 a.m. Quiescent. Colours strikingly different. The male a 

 very pale grey-green with broad whitish vertical bands on 

 sides. The female bright green. One of her hind-legs, 

 which I suppose is partially paralysed, is doubled back in 

 . a most uncomfortable-looking position. 

 8.32 a.m. Anterior part of female distinctly on her back ; right 

 fore-leg of female grasping dorsal riilge of male now in 

 the middle of his back. The male making movements. 

 8.37 a.m. Lines like leaf- veins appear on sides of male, who is 

 inflated and taking deep breaths. 



8.40 a.m. Commenced to disengage. 



8.41 a.m. Separated, followed by the female excreting. 



At this point I had to leave for the office, but was told that 

 shortly after I had left the female commenced to follow the male 

 about. On my return at 2.10 p.m. courting was in progress,. 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 1923, No. LXIII. 03 



