360 ZOOLOGY 



The familjr of slow-worms includes the famous glass-snake, 

 or jomt-snake, of the South. This snake-like hzard has no 

 legs, or only rudiments of the hinder pair. It is noted for the 

 ease with which it breaks in two when struck or lifted by the 

 tail. This result is due to the fact that, as in certain other 

 lizards, the vertebrEe of the tail are unossified along the middle 

 plane, so that thej- separate at this point upon the slightest 

 blow. The muscles of this species seem also to be arranged 



Fig. 3.38. — Chameleo, the chameleon. From Lcunis. 



SO as to facilitate separation. In Europe there is a lizard of 

 this famil}', the so-called " blindworm " (having, however, 

 well-developed eyes), which i.s found in retired localities, from 

 which it comes out, especially in the evening, to capture earth- 

 worms and slugs. 



The Chameleon, famed in literature, comes from Africa. 

 Its change of color depends upon the possession of several 

 layers of different color in the skin, which can be separately 

 expanded or contracted as required, in consequence of which 

 sometimes one, sometimes another, color comes to predomi- 

 nate. It captures insects, a habit which is facilitated by its 

 power of protruding the tongue to over half the length of its 



