62 
Relation 
Cameleon . 
Diversions . 
[1671 
They have, besides, fear of certain beasts which they 
say are in the Island. One of these approaching in size 
& fashion to a Donkey, & others of the size & make of a 
Calf. They say these beasts devour men. Nevertheless 
I have not had any cognisance of any person having been 
devour’d by these beasts during the time that I was in the 
Island. 
It has been told me that in many provinces of the 
Island, and particularly near that of Galamboulle, there 
are some birds of the size of a large Turkey-cock, which 
have the head made like a cat, & the rest of the body like 
a griffon; these birds hide themselves in the thick woods, 
& when any one passes under the tree where they are 
they let themselves fall so heavily on the head of the 
passengers that they stun them, & in the moment they 
pierce their head with their talons, then they eat them. 
There are Serpents in the Island which are not greatly 
venomous; there are also Scorpions, Spiders, & Trembles 
for all sorts of venomous beasts. 
There are also Lizards & Cameleons which have no 
venom. 
The Cameleon is a very curious animal. Firstly, because 
they assure one that it lives on air, not eating anything; 
and, secondly, its changing its colours, following the 
colour upon which it is plac’d. I have often made proof 
of it; have plac’d them on different colours, which being 
there they chang’d immediately in colour, and took that 
on which they were plac’d. This animal is made like a 
Lizard, excepting that it has the head larger & the back 
point’d. I’ve seen them of many sizes, to wit, from the 
size of a finger to the size of the arm. 
I have omitted to speak of the ordinary recreations of 
the Natives of this Island, which they perform at night, 
particularly when there’s Moonlight, during which time 
they make good cheer if they have the wherewithal, which 
