254 COMMON CHAMELEON. 



been sometimes said to possess the power of chang- 

 ing its colour at pleasure, and of assimilating it 

 to that of any particular object or situation. This, 

 however, must be received with very great limi- 

 tations ; the change of colour which the animal 

 exhibits varying in degree, according to circum- 

 stances of health, temperature of the weather, and 

 many other causes, and consisting chiefly in a 

 sort of alteration of shades from the natural green^ 

 ish or blueish grey of the skin into pale yellowish, 

 with irregular spots or patches of dull red ; but 

 not justifying the application of the Ovidiaii 

 distich. 



" Non mihi tot cultus numero comprendere fas est : 

 Adjicit ornatus proxima quseque dies." 



No numbers can the varying robe express, 

 While each new day presents a different dress. 



It is also to be observed, that the natural or 

 usual colour of Chameleons varies very consider- 

 ably ; some being much darker than others, and 

 it has even been seen approaching to a blackish 

 tinge. An occasional change of colour is likewise 

 observable, though in a less striking degree, in 

 some other Lizards. 



The general length of the Chameleon, from the 

 tip of the nose to the beginning of the tail, is 

 about ten inches, and the tail is of nearly similar 

 length, but the animal is found of various sizes, 

 and sometimes exceeds the length above men- 

 tioned. It is a creature of a harmless nature, and 

 supports itself by feeding on insects; for which 



