CHAPTER IV 
ANIMALS THAT CHANGE COLOUR 
HE power to change colour is a gift that 
Nature has bestowed upon various 
animals, including amongst their numbers both 
mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish ; but none 
of them has achieved such fame in this respect 
as the chameleon. 
Although popular opinion has credited this 
creature with the faculty of changing from 
one colour to another in a few seconds, yet, 
in reality, the transformation is quite a gradual 
process. It is brought about by the con¬ 
traction or expansion of numerous cells situated 
under the animal’s skin, which are arranged 
in layers, and contain different coloured pig¬ 
ments ; the tint of the chameleon depending 
upon how many of these layers are brought 
into use at any given time, and the extent to 
which the individual cells are opened or closed. 
The phenomenon is largely governed by the 
emotions of the creature, and is influenced 
also by fight and temperature; a low tem- 
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