Chap. IX.] CERATOPHORA. 



279 



than the extremity of this treacherous weapon is 

 disclosed, broad and cuneiform, and covered with a 

 viscid fluid ; and this, extended to its full length, is 

 darted at its prey with an unerring aim, and redrawn 

 within the jaws with a rapidity that renders the act 

 almost invisible. 1 



Whilst the faculty of this creature to assume all the 

 colours of the rainbow has attracted the wonder of all 

 ages, sufficient attention has hardly been given to the im- 

 perfect sympathy which subsists between the two lobes 

 of its brain, and the two sets of nerves that permeate the 

 opposite sides of its frame. Hence, not only has each of 

 the eyes an action quite independent of the other, but 

 one side of its body appears to be sometimes asleep whilst 

 the other is vigilant and active ; one will assume a green 

 tinge whilst the opposite one is red ; and it is said that 

 the chameleon is utterly unable to swim, from the in- 

 capacity of the muscles of the two sides to act in concert. 



Ceratophora. — This which till lately was an unique 

 lizard, known by only two specimens, one in the British 

 Museum, and another in that of Leyden, was ascertained 

 by Dr. Kelaart, about five years ago, to be a native of the 

 higher Kandyan hills, where it is sometimes seen in the 

 older trees in pursuit of insect larvae. The first speci- 

 men brought to Europe was called Ceratophora Stod- 

 dartii, after the name of its finder ; and the recent 

 discovery of several others in the National Collection has 

 enabled me, by the aid of Dr. A. GKinther, to add some 

 important facts to their history. 



This lizard is remarkable for having no external 

 ear; and it has acquired its generic name from the 



1 Prof. Rymer Jones, art. Rept- vol. iv. pt. i. p. 292. 

 ilia, in Todd's Cyclop, of Anat. 



T 4 



