217 
amphibia. 
lefs it is made angry, from black to a yellow, or 
greenilh colour, that of its gall; which lalf, being 
U'anfmitted into the blood, appears very plain, as the 
Uiufcles of the Chamaeleon are very thin, and the 
fkin tranfparent or pellucid. 
This Lizard, of which the ancients have related 
fo many true and fabulous ftories, and which is 
known to all writers in Natural hiftory, under the 
impound name of Charnel eo, I procured alive about 
this time, when the fpring had induced it to leave 
the retreat wherein it had palled the winter. This 
t'legant creature is frequently found in the neigh- 
bourhood of Smyrna, particularly near the village 
Sedizeud : here it climbs the trees, and runs 
■Unongfl: the Hones. The people of the country 
t°ld me that it lived in hollow trees ; I have not 
been an eye witnefs of this, but have often feen 
jt climb on the branches of the Olive-tree, 
klane, &c. Every one knows the qualities attri- 
buted to this animal ; that it changes colour, and 
hves on air, without requiring other food. 
I did not fail making all the enquiry I could con- 
c erning its nature, in a place where it is fo fre- 
quently found. The inhabitants told me that it 
' v °uld affume the colour of a piece of cloth, or other 
jointed or coloured fubftance, which might be put 
before it. Some have allured me that it lives 
^ u 'y on air, but others have told me that they have 
ee u it catching a fort of very fmall flies. 
. J ivrxi. now relate what I obferved inyfelf, in one 
kept alive a confiderable time; and firll concerning 
colour. I could never obferve that it aflumed 
*! e colour of any painted objeft prefented to its 
X . le ^, though I have made many experiments, with 
1. kinds of colours, on different things, Flowers, 
'"‘ l0£ h. Paintings, &c. Its natural colour is iron- 
grey, 
