CHAMZLEONTID.A, 437 
Suborder II. RHIPTOGLOSSA: 
Rhiptoglossi, Wiegmann, Herp. Mex. 1834. 
Dendrosaura, Gray, Cut. Liz. 1845. 
Chameeleonidea, Stannius, Zoot. Amph. 1856. 
Rhiptoglossa, Cope, Proc. Ac. Philad. 1864. 
Chameleonoidea, Giinther, Phil. Trans, clviii. 1867. 
Rhiptoglossa, Boulenger, Ann. § Mag. N. H. (5) xiv. 1884. 
Fam. 21. CHAMMLEONTIDA, 
Caméléoniens, Cuvier, Regne Anim. ii. 1817. 
Prendentia, Merrem, Tent. Syst. Amph. 1820. 
Chameleonide, Gray, Ann. Phil. (2) x. 1825. 
Chameleonoidea, Fitzinger, Neue Classif. Rept. 1826. 
Thecoglosse, part., Wagler, Syst. Amph. 1830. 
Chameeleontes, Wiegmann, Herp, Mex. 1834. 
Caméléoniens ou Chélopodes, Duméril § Bibron, Erp. Gén. iii. 1836. 
Chameleontes, Fitsinger, Syst. Rept. 1848. 
Chameeleonide, Gray, Cat. Liz. 1845. 
Chameeleontide, Cope, Proc. Ac. Philad. 1864. 
The characters in which Chameleons differ from all other Lacer- 
tilia are of such importance as te require their separation as a Sub- 
order. The principal of these characters are:—Kwternal nasal 
openings bounded by the maxillary and the prefrontal, the nasal 
bones being excluded from their border ; vomer single; pterygoids 
not reaching quudrate ; a supratemporal bone present. Clavicles and 
interclavicle absent, the limbs being well developed. Digits arranged in 
two bundles, forming grasping-organs. Tongue cylindrical, extremely 
extensile and projectile, sheathed at the base, club-shaped and viscose 
at the end, with an eaceedingly elongate glossohyal bone. 
The head usually forms a bony casque, ornate with crests or 
tubercles. The interorbital septum is present, and asmall columella 
cranii distinguishable. Premaxillary extremely small, edentulous ; 
orbit bony all round, the pre- and postfrontals often joining to form 
a supraorbital roof; a pair of supranasal fontanelles, bordered by 
the nasals, the prefrontals, and the frontal; latter bone single ; 
“parietal” foramen, if present, pierced in the frontal; parietal 
single, often much narrowed and compressed, forming a crest, and 
meeting posteriorly the extremities of a pair of bones, the supra- 
temporals, which, on each side, connect it with the squamosal In 
some species the parietal in the adult may be much expandéd and 
form a bony slab from which the supratemporals are no longer to be 
