THE INTELLECTUAL OBSERYEB. 



DECEMBER, 1866. 



OBSERVATIONS OF THE CHANGES OP COLOUR AND 

 MODES OF TAKING FOOD IN THE CHAMELEON. 



BY JONATHAN' COUCH, F.L.S., 



Corresponding Member Z.S., etc. 



The chameleon has ever been an object of curiosity, and in tlie 

 times of great ignorance of natural history it was a special 

 subject of wonder, as well as of nmcli fable, in consequence of 

 its frequent and unaccountable cbanges of colour, and its 

 supposed faculty of living without food : its ouly diet being* 

 the air, of which it drew witliin itself a large abundance, and 

 from which, it was believed to acquire a considerable increase 

 of size. But its habits in these respects were differently repre- 

 sented, even by those who appeared to be careful observers ; 

 and it was therefore with much pleasure that I had an oppor- 

 tunity of observing them in an example which, was presented 

 to me, and which, was embarked on board of a ship at Cadiz, 

 with, several others, the larger number of which died on the 

 voyage to England. It came to my hands about the end of 

 the month of July in perfect health ; and when presented to 

 me the only caution given with it was, that I should be careful 

 to provide it with water ; and, it was added, that those which 

 had died on the passage had refused it, whilst such as drank 

 freely remained alive. To this observation and recommen- 

 dation, however, I paid no attention • as a Mr. Jackson, who 

 studied the habits of this creature in its native country, in his 

 Account of the Empire of Morocco, had asserted that the chameleon 

 was not accustomed to drink. 



The example which thus came into my possession mea- 

 sured ten inches in length, of which the tail was four inches 

 and a half. The head compressed, jaws of equal length, 

 furnished with slight cartilaginous teeth. From above the 

 upper jaw commenced on each side a ridge, which passing 

 vol. x. — no. v. y 



