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The next branch of natural history that claims our 
attention, is that of insects and reptiles. 
There are several species of lizards, the most 
interesting of which are the chameleon and the breast- 
leaper. 
The chameleon (Tha) has been so commonly 
described by naturalists, that it is unnecessary to 
repeat it. But we do not recollect ever meeting with 
a description of the latter, except in Flacourt. Its 
native name is Famocantratra; and it is a small 
animal, which attaches itself to the bark of trees, and 
being of a greenish hue, is not easily perceived; there 
it remains with its throat open, to receive the flies, 
spiders, and other insects that approach it, which it 
devours. This animal is described as having attached 
to the back, tail, legs, neck, and the extremity of the 
chin, little paws, or hooks, like those at the end of a 
bat’s wing, with which it adheres to whatever it 
attaches itself, in such a manner as if it were really 
glued; if a native happen to approach the tree 
where it hangs, it instantly leaps upon his naked 
breast, and sticks so firmly, that in order to remove 
it, they are obliged, with a razor, to cut away the skin 
also. The natives are very much afraid of this 
animal, and with reason. 
Snakes are very common, and some of them are as 
large as a man’s thigh, probably of the Boa constricta 
kind. None of the species are at all venomous; and 
though frequently bitten by them, the natives expe¬ 
rience no further inconvenience than from the bite of 
any other animal. 
