CURIOUS DWELLERS OF SWAMP AND FOREST. 161 



even to the feet and tail. As has been already stated, the 

 animal's lungs are very large — so large, indeed, that it was 

 supposed by Pliny, who simply transcribes the accounts 

 given by Greek authors, that the lungs almost filled the 

 entire cavity of the body ; these lungs connect with the 

 air-cells beneath the skin. By taking air into the lungs, 

 whence it passes into the air-cells, the chameleon is able to 

 inflate itself to as much as twice its ordinary size ; and often 

 it remains so inflated for a long time, now slightly collaps- 

 ing, again swelling out, till the skin becomes as tense as the 

 head of a drum. No doubt it was this power of self-infla- 

 tion which led the ancients to suppose that, "alone among 

 animals, the chameleon neither eats nor drinks, its only 

 sustenance being air." 



10. But the color-changes of the chameleon form per- 

 haps the most interesting phenomenon connected with this 

 animal. We need not repeat the fabulous stories told about 

 these color-changes : the facts which can be strictly verified 

 by direct observation are wonderful enough without the 

 adornments of imagination. These changes of color range 

 from whity-yellovv, through yellow, bright and dark green, 

 to dull black ; and these diversities of coloration may affect 

 the entire surface of the animal, or one or other of its sides, 

 or may appear only in spots. When the chameleon is asleep, 

 and not exposed to the direct rays of the sun, its color is a 

 whity-yellow ; when basking in the sun, it is a dingy black 

 or dusky brown. On being aroused from sleep, the side 

 which is first awakened assumes a darker shade. There is 

 reason for believing that sunlight, apart from the warmth 

 which accompanies it, is very grateful to the chameleon, 

 and, in response to this stimulus, he at once begins his 

 play of color. SdeHce MmWy 



