ORDER SAURIA. S37 



particular examination. It can inflate at will the different 

 parts of its body, so as considerably to increase its entire 

 volume. This, in all probability, with its colour resembling 

 the leaves among which it dwells, are the only feeble means 

 of defence vouchsafed to it by nature, who appears in all 

 else to have been a step-dame to this harmless reptile. 



It is by slow and irregular motions, and not by progres- 

 sive oscillations, that the cameleon swells itself out. It fills 

 itself with air so as to double its diameter. This inflation 

 extends even into its feet and tail. It remains in this state 

 sometimes during two hours, gradually diminishing in bulk 

 from time to time. Its dilatation is always more sudden than 

 its compression. It is more than probable that this pheno- 

 menon takes place by the introduction of the air from the 

 lungs between the epidermis and the skin ; but there are no 

 positive observations on this subject so very worthy of the 

 researches of travellers. It is certain, at least, that these 

 animals can also very considerably inflate their lungs ; for 

 those who have dissected them are very far from being in ac- 

 cordance respecting the volume of that organ, some pro- 

 nouncing it to be very small, and others extremely bulky. 



We have illustrated this genus by two of its species from 

 specimens in the British Museum. The C. Bifurcus is de- 

 scribed at page 61. C. Dilepis is so named by Dr. Leach ; the 

 specimen was brought by Mr. Bowdich from Africa. 



Among the various species of the Skinks we shall slightly 

 notice the following : — 



The slunk of pharmacopolists, as it is termed by our 

 author, the common skink (scincus officinalis), does not ex- 

 ceed the length of six or eight inches, and is a native of 

 Nubia, of Abyssinia, Syria, and Egypt, from which, by the 

 way of Alexandria, commerce has extended it throughout all 

 Europe, but more especially throughout Asia. It also ap- 

 pears to frequent the coasts of Barbary, and, perhaps, even 



