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Common Skink. — Unlike the gecko the common skink has 
heen prized for many centuries as a form of medicine. If swallowed 
alive it cured consumption ! If dried and powdered it was supposed 
to cure some other disease ! ! The idea is still maintained in 
some parts of Arabia where portions of its body are administered as 
a drug. It frequents sandy deserts in North Africa and Centr.al 
Asia where it subsists almost entirely upon beetles and flies. The 
colour is a shining rich brown broken with splashes of white and 
yellow. This is a good vivarium inmate, thriving well in a sunny 
situation if it has plenty of sand in which it delights to burrow 
(4 to 6 inches). 
The Cunningham Skink is a native of the wooded parts of 
Australia, living upon insects, and to a certain extent fruits. 
1 hough quite harmless the appearance suggests anything but this, 
for it is thickly covered by a number of prickly scales, which will 
be noticed on referring to our illustraton. In captivity this creature 
is e.xceptionally hardy. It seems to prefer a dry case, and it is 
particularly partial to ripe bananas (ij to 2 feet). 
Common Chameeleon. — Of all the lizards this species is the 
most peculiar. Though very broad when viewed laterally, its body is 
as thin as a paper-knife when seen from above. As these creatures 
are tree-dwellers their feet are specially adapted for firmly grasping 
the boughs, and often the prehensile tail assists in making sure of its 
foothold. The movements are usually sedate and deliberate, but 
there are times when the creature will indulge in a little violent 
exercise. When disturbed a healthy wild specimen will open its 
mouth almost at right angles, hissing loudly the while and woe 
betide the hand that too closely approaches, for it will sharply 
receive a most painful nip like that of a pair of pincers. The tongue 
is by far the most wonderful part of the animal. If a hungry 
chammleon be supplied with a butterfly, it will first survey the 
situation, then slowly and deliberately move towards the unforiunatt 
insect till within about seven or eight inches of it. Then with a sudden 
leaning forward of the shoulders it slightly opens the mouth and 
presses the tongue against the upper jaw. This is followed by the 
protrusion of the tongue for about an inch, then an instant after it is 
flung like lightning against the victim and as quickly withdrawn, but 
with the insect sticking to the tip. The whole process occupies but 
a few seconds. The pressing of the tongue against the upper jaw. 
previous to striking, is considered to be for the purpose of supplying 
the tip of that member with an adhesive substance which causes any 
insect so touched to stick to it. But what has given rise to so much 
fable and story about this creature is the power of changing its 
colour, and even its pattern. However there are several, if not 
many, other animals which have this ability to a greater degree than 
the chamacleon itself. There area certain number of shades of black, 
brown, yellow, and green which it can assume, but it has not the 
power often accredited to it of changing to any hue it desires. At 
night when asleep the common species is always yellow ; in the full 
glare of the sun it is usually dark brown. If, however, it is frightened 
a large number of emerald green spots often make their appearance. 
In a state of nature the colour usually harmonises with the foliage. 
Yet another peculiar faculty is the chammleon’s. To make up for 
the stiffness of the neck the eyes are wonderfully active in their 
sockets, and furthermore while one is fixed upon an object before the 
animal the other can be studiously watching some insect behind. 
The two eyes are capable of independent vision. At first this was 
considered to be peculiar to chamaeleons alone, but other animals 
