COMMON cham^:leon. 



255 



purpose the structure of the tongue is finel}^ 

 adapted, consisting of a long, missile body, fur- 

 nished with a dilated and somewhat tubular tip, 

 by means of which the animal seizes insects with 

 great ease, darting out its tongue in the manner 

 of a Woodpecker, and retracting it instantane- 

 ously with the prey secured in its tip. It can 

 also support a long abstinence, and hence arose 

 the popular idea of the Chameleon being nou- 

 rished by air alone. It is found in many parts of 

 the world, and particularly in India and Africa. 

 It is also sometimes seen in the warmer parts of 

 Spain and Portugal 



The Chameleon, by the power which it possesses 

 in common with most other Amphibia, of inflat- 

 ing its lungs and retaining the air for a great 

 length of time, appears occasionally of a plump 

 or fleshy aspect, while at other times, on evacuat- 

 ing the air from its lungs and keeping them in a 

 collapsed state, it appears in the utmost degree of 

 extenuation as if consisting of little more than a 

 mere skin, the ribs being completely visible on 

 each side the body. The skin on every part of 

 the animal is of a granulated structure, the gra- 

 nules differing in size on different parts, from that 

 of a small pin's head to the diameter of the tenth 

 of an inch, or even more, especially on the edges 

 of the projecting parts of the head and jaws. 

 Down the back runs a series of obscure denticula- 

 tions or slight projections, forming a carina on 

 that part. The feet consist each of five toes, three 

 and two of which on each foot are connate, or 



