CHAMELEON. 
6*2 
dined to seize an insect, which never fails to ad- 
here to the viscous humour that covers the tip of 
the tongue. The feet of this lizard are exceed- 
ingly curious, the toes being wrapped up in the 
skin so as to form two distinct bundles in each 
foot, something like the top of a crutch, one con- 
taining three toes and the other two : this con- 
trivance is well adapted to the habits of the animal, 
and enables him to grasp the branch of a tree with 
great firmness. His tail likewise is well calculated 
to assist him in passing from tree to tree ; since its 
flexibility allows the chameleon to twist it round 
the extremity of one branch, while he swings him- 
self with safety to another. 
Hasselquist describes a chameleon which he kept 
for near a month, as climbing up and down the 
sides of its cage in a very nimble and lively man- 
ner : but others, on the contrary, assure us that 
its motions are uniformly slow ; and that, when 
climbing the large branches of trees, it is caieful to 
fix its claws firmly into the bark, and move with 
the greatest caution. When walking on the ground 
it is said to step forward in a most careful manner, 
never lifting one foot till the others are propeily 
placed. 
This reptile s indolent manner, together with its 
very singular and extremely ugly appearance, seems 
only calculated to excite disgust ; and nothing hut 
the varied tints which the surface of its body oc- 
casionally presents to the eye of the spectaioi, could 
ever have called it into general notice, or have gained 
it the favour of the poets. 
