THE ZOOLOGIST 



No. 747.— September, 1903. 



REMARKS ON SOME EAST-AFRICAN CHAMELEONS. 



By J. Leonard Monk. 



(Plate V.) 



Our knowledge of the Ghamceleontidce has within recent years 

 been remarkably increased, and is concurrent with the steady 

 progress of the opening up of the vast African continent — the 

 land of hidden wonders — thanks to such intrepid and scientific 

 travellers as Sir Harry Johnston and others, and to such close 

 observers as Boulenger, Tornier, Werner, &c, to the former of 

 whom I am much indebted for the valuable assistance accorded 

 me in the preparation of this paper. 



The Chamceleontidce are divided into three genera — namely, 

 Chamceleon, Brookesia, and Rhampholeon — the species ranging 

 in size from the diminutive R. brachyurus, of 49 mm., to the 

 gigaDtic C. melleri, of 520 mm., and are equally diverse in form, 

 some assuming most grotesque shapes, which to their natural 

 enemies must be very alarming. 



There has been a particularly noteworthy increase in the 

 species recorded from East Africa, and it is an interesting fact 

 that the number from this part of the continent is about the 

 same as is known from Madagascar, which a few years ago was 

 regarded as the land par excellence of the Chameleon family. 



The following figures will convey at once the progress that 

 Zooi. 4th aer. vol. VII., September, 1908. 2 c 



