A MOST WONDERFUL CREATURE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4332, 2 February 1893, Page 3

A MOST WONDERFUL CREATURE.

The Chameleon has for ages been an object of curiosity, not only qn gecourit pf its' ability to change its colour at will, as one might suppose who had read accounts which men : tioned only that one characteristic, butjjalso on account of a remarkable power wbioh admits of tbe oroature jnstantly changing its form. At times it mp jip itolUlipt tli e

exact form ot a tnoiHo; again, with back curvod and tail erect, it is tlio exact counterpart of a miniature orouohing lion, which no doubt gavo origin to the narno, chameleon, which clearly mentis 'ground lion.' By inflating itssidos and flattening its bock and belly it lakes upon itself the form of an ovato leaf, tho lail acting as the petiole, the white line over the belly becoming tlio midrib. When thus expanded it also lias the extraordinary power to sway i'self oyer so as to present an edge to the oherver. thus greatly adding to its means of concealment, As is Well ltnown the least excitement, as in handling will cause a change in the colour. In its normal state it is of a light pea green, When excited the ground-work remains the same, but transverse stripes about thirty in number appear on the bodv. The3c stripes, which areof a very dark green to begin with, soon change to inky blackness. The prevailing idea that tlio Ohameleon takes upon himself the peculiar hues of whatever he is placed upon is ua curious aud widespread as it is erroneous. Placed in boxes lined with red or blue 6ilk, they retain the pea-green colour with no leaning toward the brighter hue* of the surroundings,