like a penknife, being sharp at the end, and on one edge. Beyond this edge there is a strong barb; while, on the back of the blade, a piece projects, to which the rope is fastened. This iron head is affixed to a shaft of wood eight feet in length.

"The flesh and fat of the Crocodile are eaten by the Barabras, or Berberines, who consider them excellent. Both parts, however, have a smell of musk so strong, that I could never eat Crocodile's flesh without violent sickness following.

"The musk glands of the animal form a great part of the profit, which results from its capture; as the Berberines will give as much as two dollars for them, the unguent being used as a perfume for the hair."

"In some of the rivers of Africa, the negroes are bold enough, and, indeed, skilful enough, to combat the Crocodile in his own element; and armed only with a sharp dagger, dive beneath him, and plunge the weapon in his belly. It often happens, however, that the combat is fatal to the man; and frequently his only chance of escape is to force his dagger, or if this be lost, his thumbs into the animal's eyes with all his might, so as to produce great pain and blindness."

II. FAMILY, CHAMELEONS.

THIS present family contains but one genus; namely, Chameleon.*

GENUS CHAMELEON.

This singular group of reptiles seems to stand isolated in the midst of the Saurian order. It has no immediate relationship with any other family; and, therefore, limited as it is, in a numerical sense, it cannot be

* Most naturalists spell the word Chamæleo; we, however, prefer the spelling adopted, as being that used by Pliny. The Greek is χαμαιλεων.

merged into any other section, but must form one by itself. In placing it after the Crocodiles, we follow MM. Dumeril and Bibron; and, we may say, with them, that there is "no plausible reason for this arrangement," excepting, that being as distinct from all other groups, as are the Crocodiles, it may as well succeed them, as be introduced elsewhere, to interrupt, perhaps, the series of links forming a continuous chain. The generic characters of the Chameleons consist in the tongue being cylindrical, wormlike, capable of being greatly elongated, and terminating in a fleshy tubercle, lubricated with a viscid saliva, (see figure;) in the surface of the skin being covered with horny granules, instead of scales; in the deep and compressed form of the body, which

TONGUE OF CHAMELEON.

is surmounted by an acute dorsal ridge; in the tail being round, tapering, and strongly prehensile, (capable of grasping;) and in the parrot-like structure of the feet, which have each five toes, divided into

two opposing sets, (three being placed outwardly, two inwardly,) connected together as far as the last joint, and armed with five sharp claws, as in the annexed sketch.

Besides the characters already enu

merated, we may notice the following. There are no external marks of an ear; the internal organ of hearing being entirely concealed. The head is very large; and from the shortness of the neck, it seems as if set upon the shoulders. The upper part generally presents an elevated central crest, or casque; and a ridged arch is over each orbit to the muzzle. The mouth is very wide; the teeth are sharp, small, and three-lobed. The eyes, though

in themselves large, appear extremely minute; the whole of the ball, except the pupil, being covered with skin, forming a single circular eyelid, with a central orifice. The furrow between the ball of the eye, and the edge of the orbit, is very deep; and the eyelid closely attached to the ball, moves as it moves.

Each eye has the power of motion, independent of its fellow; so that we may see the axis of one eye directed upwards, or backwards, while that of the other is in a contrary direction, giving a strange and most ludicrous aspect to the animal, in unison with its general contour, and slow movements.

The only part of the Chameleon, as Cuvier observes, which moves with quickness, is its tongue. The tongue of this animal, indeed, is not to be regarded as an instrument for ascertaining the flavour of objects; but for the prehension or acquisition of food. We have been accustomed to hear of the Chameleon feeding on air; this is an error not the less to be condemned, because it has the sanction of antiquity. The truth is, that the Chameleon lives on tolerably substantial diet, such as insects, slugs, and the like; and these it seizes, by means of its tongue, with noiseless and arrow-like rapidity of motion.

We have alluded to the general shape of this organ; we may here add, that, with the exception of the fleshy tubercle forming its tip, it consists of a hollow tube of great contractility; which, when withdrawn into the throat, is folded in upon itself, somewhat in the way in which a pocket telescope is shut up. When fully protruded, the tongue reaches to a distance, at the least equal to that of the animal's body. This organ, the structure of which has engaged the attention of many anatomists, is launched forth with inconceivable rapidity, to its full distance, and as rapidly retracted. An insect on a leaf, at an apparently hopeless distance, or a drop of water on a twig, disappear, as if by enchantment, before the Chameleon. The eye of the spectator

sees nothing definite; nor is any sound uttered, which the ear can appreciate.

From the structure of the feet, and the grasping power of the tail, which reminds us of the tail of certain monkeys in South America, it may be easily inferred, that the Chameleons are arboreal in their habits. They are, indeed, essentially climbers; slowly, and with cautious movements, they traverse the branches of the trees, among which they habitually reside; clinging with their tail, and grasping with their tenacious claws. They never go into the water; but they sometimes descend to the ground, where their actions are strange and awkward; the limbs being called in succession into use, and moved in an irresolute and groping kind of manner, before they are ultimately fixed.

The food of these creatures, as stated, consists of insects and their larvæ, etc. Without moving themselves, and perched on a branch, they watch for hours together their unconscious prey. The moment it stirs, the tongue is darted at it; it is caught, and swallowed in an instant.

It appears from Vallisnieri, that the females of this group, dig a hole in the ground for the reception of their eggs; and cover them with earth and dried leaves.

Every one knows, that the Chameleon is subject to remarkable changes of colour; and it has been asserted, that the animal assumes the colour of the object upon which it is placed, or which may be near it. As far as we have observed, this is not correct; and it has appeared to us, that these changes depended upon the influence of fear, anger, irritation, etc., on the nerves, which again modified the actions of the respiratory organs, and thus altered the state of the circulation. Light also produces decided effects; and the side of the animal exposed to the light, is generally darker than the other.

A few of the most remarkable of the changes in the colour of this reptile, as witnessed by ourselves, in numerous specimens which have come under our immediate notice may not be unacceptable. To say what is the

natural colour of the Chameleon, is rather difficult; that which was most permanent in the animals we have seen, was a dull yellowish, tinged with a livid hue; the latter prevailing more especially on the limbs. Sometimes, however, the universal colour was a straw yellow. When the animals were teased, or irritated, the lungs seemed to empty themselves, the sides collapsed, every rib became visible, and the colour changed to dark livid. When in good health, and enjoying the warmth of the sun, to which these animals are very partial, delighting to bask for hours in the genial rays, the yellow of the skin became changed into a delicate green; but not always so, for sometimes the skin appeared spotted with yellow, upon a dull greenish grey; and at other times, marbled with olive and straw colour. The changes were, in general, instantaneous, especially from a light to a dark tint; at other times, the transition was more slow; and this was the case, as it appeared to us, when the skin became marbled, or mottled. As night came on, the tints became more dull; and the general hue was frequently a dusky olive, or a dark greyish brown, not unfrequently tinged with blue.

Dr. Weissenborn, who had for some months a Chameleon in his possession, says, that of all the circumstances connected with the variations of its colour, none struck him with more surprise than the difference between the tint of one side of the body, and that of the other. He attributes this to involuntary galvanic, or nervous currents, distinct from each other, independent of each other, and occupying separate halves of the body.

"The remote cause," he says, "of the difference of colour in the two lateral halves of the Chameleon, may, in most cases, be distinctly referred to the manner in which the light acts upon the animal. The statement of Murray, that the side turned towards the light is always of a darker colour, is perfectly true: this rule holds good, as well with reference to the direct and diffused

M