1876.] The Florida Chameleon. 15 
A word more must be said of those delicate markings of very 
dark brown, sprinkled so thickly on the back and sides, As 
already mentioned, they are made up of little straight lines, 
zigzags, and chevrons. They are as constant and perhaps as in- 
explicable as those queer markings on certain minerals, known as 
“ Widmannstattian figures.” These tiny markings on the back 
and sides of Anolis principalis are always there, and they never 
change their color. Even when Anolis has changed from a ruddy 
brown to a bright green, a hand-lens will show that these figures 
are all there, and that they have retained their brown color too. 
And in some way, upon close inspection, it will be seen that 
whatever the hue may be that is assumed, these singular figures 
impart to it character and tone. 
I think our observations show that the highest effort in color- 
change is in the green. ‘There were two instances in which it is 
my belief that this same color was produced involuntarily. It is 
observable that the Anolis delights in tints. From a deep olive 
it will run through the entire gamut of that color by insensible 
hues into a leek green. It does not like harsh color lines. Now 
on one occasion Nolie had a queer spot break out on his right 
flank, just behind the fore limb. It was a bright green patch, 
‘nearly half an inch in length. The outline was sharp and angu- 
lar. It was on a cold day, when the room was uncomfortable, 
just the time when there is no disposition to change color. It is 
notable, also, that this patch of green upon that dark ground of 
brown held its brightness for two days, a very long period in- 
deed. At another time, under like circumstances, a smaller 
patch of the same color appeared on the left flank, near the hind 
leg. It had the same patchiness as the former spot, and also 
continued bright for an unusually long time. 
Perhaps a hundred times have we been asked the question, 
“ How are these changes of color produced? ” The physiology 
of this matter is not well understood ; but there is a hypothesis 
upon it which is probably in the main correct. To state this in 
rigid accuracy would likely for some of our readers require too 
many technical terms. At the risk, then, of appearing to be 
didactic, we will use very different speech. Supposing through a 
sheet of block tin many thousands of little pipes were made just 
to enter. Let them, if you will, be regarded as infinitely small. 
Call this series A. Now suppose another series in all respects 
similar and fixed inlike manner. Call this series B. It must be 
understood that the pipes of one series alternate with those of 
