The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1893-11-24
LIZARDS FOKIHE LADIES
Chameleons on Golden Chains the
Latest Fad of Fashion.

Cham0leOnS on dOiQ6n CudIuS t40
Latest Fad of Fashion.
Some Peculiarities of the Curious Little
Creature as Described by
Well-Known ReptiI-
ian Expert.
Never heard of having a pet cham
eleon?" said an up-to-date young lady
to a Washington Star man. why.
YOU surprise me. The animal Is be-
coming quite fad. Down in Florida.
where 1 was last winter. very particu-
lar friend of mine always carried her
chameleon about with her, wherever
she went. I'm not sure but that she
slept with it. At all events, she wore
it constantly
Yes. wore it, of counsel That is the
way to do with a chameleon, according
to the latest style. Though 1 am get
ting very fond Of my particular speci-
men. / am not quite reconciled to
wearing it yet. But this friend of
whom l just spoke had her chameleon
attached to chain. She had a jeweler
fasten little gold band around the
creatures body. just behind the fore
legs To this band the chain is fas
tened. the other end of it being at
tached to pin, which is stuck into the
dress.
'.Oh. I assure you that it is quite the
thing. A number of women of my ac
quaintance in Florida last winter wore
chameleons. They had them fastened
to their dresses by slender gold chains,
so that the animal could walk about.
If you have a chameleon it is correct to
wear him all the time. Repulsive idea,
you say? Not at all. See what a pretty
little animal this is. Are its eyes not
bright? And then it turns from one
color to another in such a wonderful
way. When I tickle mine under the
chin be always changes to bright pea
green.
do you know. was very much
frightened when l brought my cha
meleon up from the south? After he
left Florida last winter he positively
refused to take a thing to eat. l tried
him with scraps of raw meat and
bread, but he declined to touch a NOR
sci. Flies are his favorite diet. but
there were none of those to be had in
the north during cold weather. Final
" it occurred tome to experiment with
cockroaches. To my delight he de-
voured them with avidity. l believe
that half a dozen chameleons kept in
the kitchen and pantry would do away
with every roach, particularly water
bugs"
DIR. Steinger, the reptilian expert of
the Smithsonian institution. was APP
piled to for information respecting
this so-called species of chameleon.
Said he:
''It is not true chameleon. In fact.
it is not so nearly related to the
chameleon as the monkey is to the
man. Its right name is the 'anolis.'
and it is peculiar to America. Though
a tropical animal. its habitat extends
up into Florida. 1t lives in trees. and.
like the real chameleon, is an eater of
insects.
Here are couple of true chameleons'
in this bottle of alcohol You will OBJ
serve that they are very different look
ing animals from the anolis. They are
not found in America. but inha bit Afri-
ca. the south Of Europe and southwest
Asia There are more than twenty diff
ferent species. Some of them attain a
length of sixteen inches when full
grown. Certain kinds have long horns.
They are very ancient type of reptile
indeed.
Zone Of their peculiarities has to do
with their feet. Each of these extrem-
tiles has five toes, but is divided in
such manner that there are three toes
on one side and two on the other. If
You will put your hand in the position
of being about to grasp and will imag-
inc that you have two thumbs and only
three fingers you will perceive the
likeness to the foot of the chameleon.
1t is made that way because it is de-
signed for grasping the twigs of trees
in which it lives. The animal further
assists itself to hold on by means of its
prehensile tail. which it winds about
the branch. Madagascar is a great
place for chameleons. How do they
change color, you ask? Oh, that is very
well understood, though it is not easy
to explain in few words Beneath
the outer skin are several layers of
pigment cells. When upon a green leaf
the cells containing the green pigment
come to the top, while the others re-
treat. 1t is the same way with other
colors produced. Of course these color
changes are entirely involuntary on
the part Of the animal, being merely
intended to conceal it from its enemies. >