58 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 
fortune; the forest is large enough both for thee and me to 
rove in: go thy ways up above, and enjoy thyself in these 
endless wilds; it is more than probable thou wilt never have 
another interview with man. So fare thee well.” On 
saying this, I took up a long stick which was lying there, 
held it for him to hook on, and then conveyed him to 
a high and stately Mora. He ascended with wonderful 
rapidity, and in about a minute he was almost at the top 
of the tree. He now went off in a side direction, and 
caught hold of the branch of a neighbouring tree; he then 
proceeded towards the heart of the forest. I stood look- 
ing on, lost in amazement at his singular mode of progress. 
I followed him with my eye till the intervening branches 
closed in betwixt us: and then I lost sight for ever of the 
two-toed Sloth. I was going to add, that I never saw a 
Sloth take to his heels in such earnest; but the expression 
will not do, for the Sloth has no heels. 
That which naturalists have advanced of his being so 
tenacious of life, is perfectly true. I saw the heart of one 
beat for half an hour after it was taken out of the body. 
The wourali poison seems to be the only thing that will 
kill it quickly. On reference to a former part of these wan- 
derings, it will be seen that a poisoned arrow killed the 
Sloth in about ten minutes. 
So much for this harmless, unoffending animal. He 
holds a conspicuous place in the catalogue of the animals of 
the new world. Though naturalists have made no mention 
of what follows, still it is not less true on that account. 
The Sloth is the only quadruped known, which spends its 
whole life from the branch of a tree, suspended by his feet. 
I have paid uncommon attention to him in his native 
haunts. The monkey and squirrel will seize a branch with 
their fore feet, and pull themselves up, and rest or run upon 
it; but the Sloth, after seizing it, still remains suspended, 
and suspended moves along under the branch, till he can 
lay hold of another. Whenever I have seen him in his 
native woods, whether at rest, or asleep, or on his travels, 
I have always observed that he was suspended from the 
branch of a tree. When his form and anatomy are atten- 
tively considered, it will appear evident that the Sloth can- 
not be at ease in any situation, where his body is higher, 
or above his feet. We will now take our leave of him. 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE NATURAL HISTORY 
OF THE CHAMELEON. 
By ROBERT SPITTAL, Esq. 
The singular habits of the Chameleon have ever ex- 
cited popular astonishment, and from -their peculiar inter- 
est, claimed in a high degree the attention of the natural 
historian; and though it be now some time since, through 
his aid, many singular, but erroneous conclusions, con- 
cerning the nature and habits of this animal, have been 
dissipated, still we trust that the few remarks we intend to 
make, from personal observation — having had two of these 
animals in our possession for several months, some time 
ago — will not be deemed unworthy of attention. 
That the particular species to which our observations 
apply, may be identified, we may mention that it is desig- 
nated by Baron Cuvier, in his Regne Animal, “Le 
Chameleon ordinaire.” It is a native of Europe, Asia, 
and Africa. Those in our possession were brought from 
the south of Spain, and measured about five inches in length, 
exclusive of the tail. On being touched, they conveyed an 
impression of cold to the hand, and, like other cold-blooded 
animals, were very sluggish in their motions; and, indeed, 
we have frequently observed them remain in the same 
posture, for hours together, firmly embracing the twig on 
which they stood, with their toes, having at the same time, 
the tail generally twisted around the same, or some adja- 
cent twig. 
When excited to motion, by the appearance of a fly, not 
within the range of their power, or otherwise, they pro- 
ceeded very slowly from branch to branch, moving first 
one extremity, then another, at the same time securing 
themselves by their tails ; and we have often observed 
them trust entirely to this organ, when descending from 
twig to twig, and sometimes been impressed with the simi- 
larity between their motions and those of some of the 
monkey tribes, having prehensile tails. 
Sluggish though the Chameleon generally be, there are 
particular organs which form eminent exceptions to this 
general remark, and this is particularly the case with the 
eyes. These organs, except when the animals were asleep, 
were used with great alacrity; and it is no exaggeration to 
say, that they were continually rolling in all directions, 
with the singular peculiarity of each eye having an inde- 
pendent motion, as mentioned by Cuvier and others. This 
fact we have frequently observed ; and it was not an un- 
common thing to see one eye directed upwards, and the 
other downwards; or one backwards, and the other in an 
opposite direction, at the same time. Thus, in a beautiful 
manner, one function is made to compensate for the want 
of another; for, though naturally sluggish in the motion of 
its body generally, it enjoys a more extensive sphere of 
vision than any other animal in similar circumstances; and 
is thus enabled to discover its prey over a much larger 
surface, than, did it not possess the extensive motion of its 
eyes mentioned, it otherwise could. 
They lived entirely upon insects, and these were tempted 
to approach by besmearing the twigs in the cage with honey. 
