THE CHAMELEON 



A friend of ours, an English natural- 

 ist, tells us that he has lately had excel- 

 lent opportunities for observing the 

 changes of color and modes of taking 

 food in the Chameleon. The one in his 

 possession measured ten inches in length, 

 of which the tail was four and a half 

 inches. Its eyes were black and lively, 

 and the pupil deeply seated in a hole 

 scarcely larger than would be made with 

 a pin. 



The movement of each eye was inde- 

 pendent of the opposite, and they were 

 rarely directed at one object, except when 

 the creature was intent on seizing its 

 prey. The movements were very slow 

 and deliberate, especially when on the 

 ground. Its color was subject to contin- 

 ual change, but if a creature that rarely 

 retains the same hue for ten minutes to- 

 gether, can be said to possess one which 

 may be termed its own, it was dusky 

 brown, or almost black, nearly approach- 

 ing to the darkest soot. 



The light was of more importance than 

 the heat, and when basking in the sun, 

 even the mouth was open to receive the 

 influence. A dingy black was its common 

 color when thus enjoying itself. Both 

 sides did not always adopt the same col- 

 ors ; for while the one towards the light 

 was sometimes a dark brown, the other 

 side would perhaps be light yellow, with 

 white spots. On one occasion when the 

 stick on which it rested was touched 

 gently, without waking it, it became in- 

 stantly covered all over with minute 

 brown spots. On another, when the 

 color was altogether yellow a book was 

 held so as to cast a shade on the anterior 

 part of the body, while a candle was held 

 within four inches of the hindmost por- 

 tion; and then presently the illuminated 

 part changed to a light brown, while the 

 shaded portion remained as before, and 

 when the screen was removed, the exact 

 limit of the shade was visible. 



The general belief in its faculty to live 

 without food or drink, and to subsist 

 wholly upon air, was proved to be incor- 



rect. It required water about once in a 

 fortnight, and was very fond of flies. 

 It not only took all that came in its way. 

 but would seize them as fast as children 

 would bring them, and even became so 

 familiar with the act as to take them re- 

 peatedly from the hand. It was thus easy 

 to measure the distance to which it was 

 able to dart its tongue in seizing its prey, 

 which was found to be six inches, or 

 rather more than the length of its body. 

 The fly would adhere to the tongue by 

 means of a tenacious mucous with which 

 it was covered. On the approach of cold 

 weather, its activity was greatly lessened, 

 and it slept the greater portion of the 

 time. The sunshine would always re- 

 animate it; but artificial heat produced 

 little effect. Its color was varied, and 

 when at last found dead, the general 

 hue of its surface was dark brown. 



Each foot of this strange animal is 

 practically a pair of pincers, and it is 

 the most thoroughly arboreal creature in 

 existence. Its tongue, to which we have 

 referred, has a cup-like depression of the 

 tip, and this member which is as it were 

 the center of the Chameleon's organiza- 

 tion, is in its movement the very essence 

 of its existence. Without it the animal's 

 life would be impossible, while the very 

 slowness and deliberation of its other 

 movements are a gain, since they enable 

 the Chameleon to advance upon its prey 

 within shooting distance without alarm- 

 ing it. 



The Chameleon is also remarkable for 

 the great size of its lungs ; and according 

 to some writers its change of color is 

 derived by varying the degree of aera- 

 tion, by which it throws at pleasure a 

 greater or less quantity of blood to the 

 surface of the body. There are six or 

 more distinct species of this animal, the 

 bodies of all of whom are naked, and 

 the skin cold to the touch. 



It is a native of Asia and Africa, but 

 has also been found in the hotter parts 

 of Europe and America. 



George Bancroft Griffith. 



169 



