i' 11
I
TAB. XI.
L A C E R T A CHAMELEON.
C H A R A C T E R GENERICUS.
Corpus tetrapodum, caudatum, nudum. LIN. SYST. NAT. p. 35g.
C H A R A C T E R SPECIFICUS, &c.
Lacerta cauda tered brevi incurva, digitís duobus tribufque coadunatis.
L I N . SYST. N J T . p. 364.
Seb. Muf. t. 82. f. I, 2, 3, 4, 5. & t. 83. f. 5.
Gron. Muf. 2. p. 76. n. 50. Chama:leon.
Aid. Quad. r. 670. Cliamaeleon.
Ray. Quad. r. Chamasleon.
Muieura Leverianum, No. 4. tab. 11.
THE CHAMELEON.
G E N E R I C CHARACTER
Body four-footed, tailed, naked. LM. SYST. NAT.
S P E C I F I C CHARACTER.
Lizard with round incurved tail and conjoined toes.
FEW animals have been more celebrated by writers of natural hiftory than the Chameleon,
which has been fometimes faid to poffefs the power of changing its colour at plcafure, and of
aflimilating it to that of any particular objea or fituation. This however muft be reecived
with very great limitations: the change of colour which the animal exhibits varying in degree,
according to circumftances of health, temperature of the weather, and other caufcs, and confifting
chiefly in a fort of alternation of iliades from the natural greenifli or bluifli-grey of the
Jkin into pale yellowiili, with irregular fpots and patches of dull red. It is alfo to be obferved
that tlie natural colour of Chameleons varies very confiderably: fome being much
darker than others; and it has even been feen approaching to a blackilli tinge. It (hould alib
./ •^ar>f?-& .C^a'nce/con.