58 



THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 



fortune; the forest is large enough both for thee and me to 

 rove in: go thy ways up above, and enjoy thyself in these 

 endless wilds; it is more than probable thou wilt never have 

 another interview with man. So fare thee well." On 

 saying this, I took up a long stick which was lying there, 

 held it for him to hook on, and then conveyed him to 

 a high and stately Mora. He ascended with wonderful 

 rapidity, and in about a minute he was almost at the top 

 of the tree. He now went off in a side direction, and 

 caught hold of the branch of a neighbouring tree; he then 

 proceeded towards the heart of the forest. I stood look- 

 ing on, lost in amazement at his singular mode of progress. 

 I followed him with my eye till the intervening branches 

 closed in betwixt us: and then I lost sight for ever of the 

 two-toed Sloth. I was going to add, that I never saw a 

 Sloth take to his heels in such earnest; but the expression 

 will not do, for the Sloth has no heels. 



That which naturalists have advanced of his being so 

 tenacious of life, is perfectly true. I saw the heart of one 

 beat for half an hour after it was taken out of the body. 

 The wourali poison seems to be the only thing that will 

 kill it quickly. On reference to a former part of these wan- 

 derings, it will be seen that a poisoned arrow killed the 

 Sloth in about ten minutes. 



So much for this harmless, unoffending animal. He 

 holds a conspicuous place in the catalogue of the animals of 

 the new world. Though naturalists have made no mention 

 of what follows, still it is not less true on that account. 

 The Sloth is the only quadruped known, which spends its 

 whole life from the branch of a tree, suspended by his feet. 

 I have paid uncommon attention to him in his native 

 haunts. The monkey and squirrel will seize a branch with 

 their fore feet, and pull themselves u]), and rest or run upon 

 it; but the Sloth, after seizing it, still remains suspended, 

 and suspended moves along under the branch, till he can 

 lay hold of another. Whenever I have seen him in his 

 native woods, whether at rest, or asleep, or on his travels, 

 I have always observed that he was suspended from the 

 branch of a tree. When his form and anatomy are atten- 

 tively considered, it will appear evident that the Sloth can- 

 not be at ease in any situation, where his body is higher, 

 or above his feet. We will now take our leave of him. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE NATURAL HISTORY 

 OF THE CHAMELEON. 



By ROBERT SPITTAL, Esij. 



The singular habits of the Chameleon have ever ex- 

 cited popular astonishment, and from their peculiar inter- 

 est, claimed in a high degree the attention of the natural 



historian; and though it be now some time since, through 

 his aid, many singular, but erroneous conclusions, con- 

 cerning the nature and habits of this animal, have been 

 dissipated, still we trust that the few remarks we intend to 

 make, from personal observation — having had two of these 

 animals in our possession for several months, some time 

 ago — will not be deemed unworthy of attention. 



That the particular species to which our observations 

 apply, may be identified, we may mention that it is desig- 

 nated by Baron Cuvier, in his Regne .Animal, "Le 

 Chameleon ordinaire." It is a native of Europe, Asia, 

 and Africa. Those in our possession were brought from 

 the South of Spain, and measured about five inches in length, 

 exclusive of the tail. On being touched, they conveyed an 

 impression of cold to the hand, and, like other cold-blooded 

 animals, were very sluggish in their motions; and, indeed, 

 we have frequently observed them remain in the same 

 posture for hours together, firmly embracing the twig on 

 which they stood, with their toes, having, at the same time, 

 the tail generally twisted around the same, or some adja- 

 cent twig. 



When excited to motion, by the appearance of a fly, not 

 within the range of their power, or otherwise, they pro- 

 ceeded very slowly from branch to branch, moving first 

 one extremity, then another, at the same time securing 

 themselves by their tails; and we have often observed 

 them trust entirely to this organ, when descending from 

 twig to twig, and sometimes been impressed with the simi- 

 larity between their motions and those of some of the 

 monkey tribes, having prehensile tails. 



Sluggish though the Chameleon generally be, there are 

 particular organs which form eminent exceptions to this 

 general remark, and this is particularly the case with the 

 eyes. These organs, except when the animals were asleep, 

 were used with great alacrity; and it is no exaggeration to 

 say, that they were continually rolling in all directions, 

 with the singular peculiarity of each eye having an inde- 

 pendent motion, as mentioned by Cuvier and others. This 

 fact we have frequently observed; and it was not an un- 

 common thing to see one eye directed upwards, and the 

 other downwards; or one backwards, and the other in an 

 opposite direction, at the same time. Thus, in a beautiful 

 manner, one function is made to compensate for the want 

 of another; for, though naturally sluggish in the motion of 

 its body generally, it enjoys a more extensive sphere of 

 vision than any other animal in simil.u- circumstances; and 

 is thus enabled to discover its prey over a much larger 

 surface, than, did it not possess the extensive motion of its 

 eyes mentioned, it otherwise could. 



They lived entirely upon insects, and these were tempted 

 to approach by besmearing the twigs in the cage with honey. 



