The Hawaiian gazette., 1878-03-06
The Colors of the Chameleon

NJ. Paul Bert, within the last two years, has
by his researches thrown still further light upon
these curious changes and upon the mechanism
by which they appear to be accomplished. He
indorses most Of the results of Milne Edwards
and subsequent inquirers. but has carried his OBJ
servations much further. 1t would be out of
place here to give detailed account of the me
thods by which NJ. Bert has arrived at his con-
illusions. Suffice it to say, that by series Of
careful experiments he has discovered that these
changes OF color seem to he entirely under the
control OF the nervous system, and that the
chameleon can no more help them taking place
than q toad can help twitching its leg when
pinched.
By acting in various ways upon the spinal
marrow and the brain the operator can send the
color to or withdraw it from any part of the
body he pleases. Indeed, previous observer
was able to cause change of color in piece
of the skin of the animal by acting upon it with
electricity, and NJ. Bert has proved that even in
the absence of the brain the usual change can
be produced by exciting the animal in any way,
thus showing that they are due to that class of
nervous action which PSYCHOLOGISTS name reflex,
and OF which sneeZlDg is good example NJ
Bert has also made some interesting experiments
on the animal while under the influence of an
aesthetics and during sleep. 1t was formerly
known that in the latter case, and also after
death the chameleon assumed yellowish color.
which, under the influence of light, became more
or less dark.
NJ. Bert has found that exactly the same ef-
fects are produced during an9sthesa az during
natural sleep. and that light Influences not only
dead and sleeping chameleons but that it mod-
in h. r
the animal when wide awake The same result
is produced when the light is transmitted
through glass of a deep blue color, but ceases
completely when red or yellow glass is used To
render these results more decisive. NJ Bert con-
trlyed to throw the light of powerful lamp
upon sleeping chameleon, taking care to keep
IN the shade part of the animals back by
means of perforated screen. The result was
curious the head the neck, the legs, the abdo-
men and the tail became Of very dark green;
while the back appeared as if covered with a
light brown saddle or irregular outline, with two
brown spots corresponding to the holes in the
screen.
Again, by placing another animal quite awake.
in full sunlight, but with the four part of its
body behind piece of red glass. and the bind
part underneath blue glass, NJ Bert divided the
body into two distinct parts-one of a clear
80 " 'eou's" ePo's' a"u Tue otIer vi
dark green with very prominent spots. From
his researches whole, NJ Bert concludes ::
First. The colo.s and the various tints which
chameleons assume are due to changes in the
position of the colored corpusces, which some
times, by sinking underneath the skin form an
opaque back ground underneath the carcuescent
layer of pouchet sometimes by spreading them
selves out in superficial rami6cations. leave to
the skin its yellow color. or make it appear green
and black. Second. The movements of these
color bags or chTomoblasts are regulated by two
groups OF nerves, one of which causes them to
rise from below to the surface, while the other
produces the opposite effect.-C Chambers Jour-
nal