Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 6.djvu/546

 their movements. Alfred Brehm, who received as a present from the African explorer, Schweinfurth, a number of these animals, states that the chameleon never moves at all except from necessity; it will remain in one position on a branch or twig for hours at a time, firmly grasping with tail and paws the object on which it is perched. The eyes, on the contrary, are nearly always in motion. The chameleons sent to Brehm reached their destination in indifferent condition, the skin dry and flabby, and the animals utterly apathetic. Water having been showered upon them in fine spray, they began to recover, and to lick the drops from one another's backs; their skin assumed a better color, and soon they were clambering up and down the branches which stood in their cage, and even engaging in combat. In their battles they use their teeth, but without doing serious injury; and they have a curious way of solemnly lashing one another with their tails. But such activity as this is exceptional in the chameleon: it is to be seen especially in the pairing season. When preying on winged insects, the chameleon is seen occasionally to protrude the knobbed end of his tongue, and in an instant that member is shot forth and again retracted, bearing the prey into the captor's mouth. The extremity of the tongue exudes a sticky substance on which the prey is caught. When flies and other winged insects are not to be had, the chameleon's swivel-eyes scan the trunk of the tree, and the branches above, below, and on all sides around, to see if any creeping thing may be caught. If any such creature is approaching the spot where the chameleon is lying, he waits till it comes within striking distance, and then "discharges" his tongue at it. But, if the creature is traveling away from him, he pursues, though with grave deliberation. If the prey comes very near to his muzzle, the chameleon retreats a little, to increase the distance, and then darts out his tongue. In performing this act, the chameleon displays very great activity; otherwise, all his movements are the reverse of precipitate. Thus, if he would change from his normal position of absolute quietude—his belly resting on an horizontal branch, which he grasps as firmly as he can with all five hands (for his tail is a fifth hand)—he first advances one of the fore-paws one step; then the tail is relaxed, advanced an equal distance, and again coiled tight; next the other feet are advanced a step, one after another; and so on. It is not easy to recognize the propriety of the name little lion (chamæelon) given to this reptilian tardigrade by the ancient Greeks. And the animal is as harmless as it is slow of movement, though the ancients supposed that in the dog-days it assumes some of the lion's ferocity.

The large, projecting eyeballs of the chameleon are capable of a great variety of movements; and, what is very curious, each of them may, and usually does, act independently of the other. This circumstance compensates for the fixedness of the head, enabling the animal to direct its glances on all sides, without the necessity of calling into play any muscles save those of the eyeball. Still, when about to strike,