ZOOLOGY. 



The general size of the Chamaeleon (including the 

 tail) is from eight inches to fifteen, in the different Species, 

 which have been examined, and there is little doubt but 

 that a great many more remain unknown and undiscovered 

 in their native forests. 



It is a creature quite harmless to man, and supports 

 itself by feeding upon small insects, for which the tongue 

 is excellently adapted, being of a contractile nature so 

 as to be shot forth to a considerable length or drawn back 

 into the mouth at pleasure; it is also divided at the 

 end. By the power which it possesses, in common with 

 the Amphibia, of inflating its chest with Air, it sometimes 

 appears much more plump and fleshy than at other times, 

 on this account when in its lean state its ribs may often 

 be compleatly seen and counted as well as the Vertebrae 

 of the back and neck: the skin is granulated, and com- 

 posed of small tubercles the size of a pin's head, of an 

 irregular Shape. The motions of the Chama;leon are ex- 

 tremely slow, and when sitting on a branch, or passing from 

 one to another, it fastens itself by curling its tail round 

 that from which it means to move, till it has secured the 

 other by its feet. The change of Colour which always 

 lakes place upon bringing it out of a shady place into 

 the sunshine is very remarkable, from a bluish ash colour, 

 it becomes rather of a yellow tinge, and spotted with an 

 appearance of Red: on reversing its body, it becomes 

 sometimes party-coloured, one side being grey and the 

 other brown ; so that it is impossible to ascertain what exact 

 colour is really most natural to this truly surprising animal* 

 ur to say with the Poet; 



u no Numbers can the varying robe express, 

 As each new day presents a different dress." 



