200 THE AD VENTURES OF 



We heard some doves cooing, and PEncuerado went off 

 alone in the direction of the sound, for these birds are dif- 

 * ficult of approach. Gringalet, notwithstanding our calls, 

 ran after the Indian. 



Lucien climbed the rock which hung over the pool, and 

 made signs for me to come to him, saying, in a low voice, 



" Papa, come and look at this strange animal." 



I also climbed up, and found lying on the top a Mexican 

 chameleon, a kind of round-shaped lizard, with a brown 

 skin dotted over with yellow spots, which seemed to change 

 color in the light. Lucien tried to catch the graceful rep- 

 tile, which, however, glided between his fingers and disap- 

 peared behind the rock. 



The Mexican chameleon lives only in the woods and 

 among the rocks. It chiefly delights in the oak forests, 

 where the dark color of its body blends with the hue of the 

 dry leaves, and enables it to lie successfully in ambush for 

 the insects on which it feeds. Sumichrast, who had suc- 

 ceeded in taming a chameleon, told us that the reptile's 

 throat, which was white during the daytime, assumed dur- 

 ing the night a dark hue ; also, that it liked to be caressed, 

 and became familiar enough to take from his hand the flies 

 which were offered it. The Indians, who hold the animal 

 in great dread when alive, are in the habit of wearing its 

 dried body as an amulet against the " evil eye." 



From our lofty observatory we were looking at the 

 beautiful birds which occasionally flew across the plain, 

 when Sumichrast suddenly fired. He had caught sight of 

 a fine magpie, of an ashy-blue color, with its head crowned 

 by a tuft ; its throat appeared as if it were bound round 

 with black velvet, a peculiarity which has obtained for it 

 from the Indians the name of the " commander bird." Lu- 

 cien came down from the rock to go and pick up the game, 

 when an enormous kite darted on the magpie, seized it in 



