60 



THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 



floor of the cage. While in this weak state, their colour 

 differed from any we ever observed them to assume while 

 in health. They became of the following hues, viz. yel- 

 low and purple. These colours were in large irregular 

 patches, and seemed gradually to brighten as the animals 

 became weaker, until on death they were brightest. 



With regard to the transparent property of tjie body of 

 the Chameleon, we have only to say, that on one occasion, 

 we are tolerably sure that we observed the shadow of the 

 wires of the cage, during the bright sunshine, through the 

 body of one of them, while in a compressed state. 



These remarks, we think, seem to show that the exist- 

 ing opinions, which attribute the change of colour to the 

 action of the lungs, as the chief cause, is correct; not we 

 believe entirely, however, owing to the change of colour 

 of the blood, according to the respiration, transmitted by 

 the skin; but conjointly, with its effects on the integu- 

 ments, rendering them more or less tense or flaccid; and 

 thus enabling the surface to reflect different rays of light at 

 different times, according to the state of the integuments. 



It is curious to observe the opinions of naturalists con- 

 cerning the change of colour in the Chameleon, and we 

 have here subjoined those of the authors we have consulted 

 on this point, in a tabular form. 



AtiTHORS. 



Opinions concerning the causes of Change of Colour. 



Aristotle. | 



Pliny. k 



IVorm. 1655. 

 Soliuus. 



The Cartesians. 5 



Kircher. 

 GodUard. 

 Sonnini. j 



Author in Sets'' j 

 Eiii'yclu[K-d.uln) 1 

 quuti.s ilie p\\- f 

 cidiiig tivc Au- 1 

 thurs. J 



Encyc. Brit. | 



Encyc. Edin. k 



Limixus, I 



Systfin. Nat. j 

 Golfhmit/t, l 



Aiiiinat. Nat. 5 

 Hnssrlijuist. 

 S/iaw, Nut Hist 

 Utisxell, Nat. Hiat. 7 



AKi.po. 5 

 Fleiniiii^^ Pliilos. ( 



of Zo.d. 5 

 Fiv iich. Academi- ( 



ciaiis. 3 

 Lace/jcde, Ovip. ( 



Quad. 5 



D'Obsonville. S 



Dumeril^ Diet, de i 

 Scieuccs Nat. 3 



Cttvier, J 

 Rtg'iie Anim. j 



Barrorw, "] 

 Tiavtls in Africa. J 



The change of colour laki-s place when the animal becomes infla- 



trd. 



Takt-s (he colour of hodii-s which it approaches, except red and 



white. 

 From aff ctions of the mind ufanimal. 

 ReHtciioii. 

 By dispo-ition of parts thai compose ihe skin giving a different 



ujodificution tu r;iys of tight, 

 [inaginaiion iifHiiinial. 



Graiiuli-s on skii) rtfl> ctln-.^ colour of bodies adjacent. 

 l'h< ir diff^ rent aflVction^ increase ur diiniiiish the bitensity of the 



tints of colour. 



Skin yellow; blond vinlt-f; change in consequence of different 

 quantities of bluod driven into skin at diffci-ent times. 



Changes on exposure to sun; colour seems to depend on sUte of 

 health, tempi rature, and other uiikiiowii causes. 



LiiiiF^ render skin more (ir hss transparent, and also change the 

 colour of the blooil accortliug as inflated. 



Perhaps from being seized with a kind of jaundice. 



Not from colour of objects it approaches. 



From beinpf verysuhjict tojaundice. 



From txposure to sun, cliangi.s colour. 



Frum objects on \shich they happen to be placed. 



Aci-ording tu states of animal. 



From exposui-e to sun. 



Fear, angt r, and heat. 



Uluod violti; vtsst-ls and skin yellow; hence upon quantity of 

 bluod driven tu skni d<.']K-ikd8 colour. 



AeeuitUiig a- blood is sent iimre ur less rapidly in contact with the 

 fi'isb uir ln^plr>.d. 



AecoiUiiig lu iluir wants and passions, lungs render body nioreoi 

 Uss iraiispaiviit, ai.d force the blood iiioie or It S3 li> flow to- 

 \v;irds the skni: ibal Huul colour< d ruore or less brightly accord- 

 ing to quantity of air taken iuio lungs. 



From quantity of uxygen in lungs. 



However, with the exception of a few, including Dr. Rus- 

 sell and Pliny, all seem to agree, that the colour of the 

 Chameleon does not depend on that of the body on which 

 it happens to be placed. 



Dr. Russell drew his conclusions from observing, that 

 sometimes, while on a tree, the colour of the animal ap- 

 proached to that of the bark; and again, while on the 

 grass, after some time it became of a green hue. Now, 

 these two colours are the most usual, as far as our observa- 

 tion goes, which the Chameleon assumes, however situated. 

 Coincidences such as these, however, we admit, are cer- 

 tainly liable to mislead, especially those, setting about an 

 inquiry of this nature, under the influence of a precon- 

 ceived theory. But indeed, Dr. Russell at the same time 

 admits, that the Chameleon does not always assume the 

 colour of the ground on which it is placed, and states, that, 

 when put into a box lined with black, it sometimes became 

 lighter in colour, and vice versa when put into a white one. 

 Another objection to this theory is, that the Chameleon re- 

 tains its hue for some time after removal from the spot 

 where it had become of any particular colour, which could 

 not be the case did it depend upon the colour of surround- 

 ing objects. This fact we have often noticed, and with the 

 exception of the somewhat ridiculous opinions of Linnaeus, 

 Ilasselquist, and Kircher, most of the aulhors we have 

 quoted, either distinctly state, or from their observations on 

 this subject entitle us to infer, that the lungs are the principal 

 agents in the production of the change of colour, their ac- 

 tion being apparc^itly modified by the temperature of the 

 air — light — passions or affections of the mind — state of 

 health — various wants — and perhaps other unknown causes. 



Edin. I'hil. Juur. 



THE BLACK SWAN. 

 When the classical writers of antiquity spoke of the 

 Black Swan as a proverbial rarity, so improbable as almost 

 to be deemed impossible, little did they imagine that in 

 these latter days a region would be discovered, nearly equal 

 in extent to the Roman empire even at the proudest period 

 of its greatness, in which their " rara avis" would be found 

 in as great abundance as the common wild Swan upon the 

 lakes of Europe. Such, however, has been one of the 

 least singular among the many strange and unexpected re- 

 sults of the discovery of the great southern continent of 

 New Holland. 



The Black Swans are found as well in Van Dieman's 

 Land as in New South Wales and on the western coast of 

 New Holland. They are generally seen in flocks of eight 

 or nine together, floating on a lake; and when disturbed, 

 flying off like wild geese in a direct line one after the other. 

 These quotations show that the opinions of naturalists on They are said to be extremely shy, so as to render it difficult 

 this subject are very various, and even contradictory, to approach within gunshot of them. — Menag. ZooL Soc. 



