Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-09
LIZARDS FOR THE LADIES.
ShameleOns on Golden Chain. th,
Latest Fad of Fashion.

Never heard of having a pet chameleon p,
said an up-to-date young lady TO a Star
writer. Why. you surprise me. The ami
mai is becoming quite fad. Down i'm Flor
IDA, where 1 was last winter, a very partic-
ular friend of mine always carried her
Chameleon about with her wherever she
went. I'm not sure but that she slept with
II. At all events. she wore it constantly.
Yes. wore ii, of course, That is the wav
TO do with a chameleon, according to the
latest style. Though am getting very fond
OF my own particular specimen, / am NOT
quite reconciled to wearing il vet But this
friend of whom 1 just spoke had her cham
eleon attached to 4 chain. She had a lew
eler hasten little gold band around the
creatures body, Just behind the fore legs.
TO this band the chain was fastened the
other end of it being attached to a pin which
is stuck into the dress
on, j assure you that It is quite the
thing A number of women Of my acquaint-
ance IN Florida last winter Wore chamele-
ons. They had them fastened 10 their
dresses by slender gold chains so that the
ANIMALS could walk about If you have a
Chameleon, II is correct TO wear him all the
time Repulsive idea, you say? Not AT all
See what pretty little animal this is, Are
It's eyes not bright? And then 1t turns from
one Color 10 another In such wonderful
way: When i tickle mine under the chin.
ne always changes to a bright pea-green.
do you know. i was very much fright
ened when brought my chameleon up from
lne south- AFTER We left Florida last
winter he positively refused to take a thing
to eat. ! tried him with scraps of raw
meat and bread, but he declined TO touch
a morsel Flies are his favorite diet but
there We're none of those TO be had in the
north during cold weather. Finally, IL oc-
CURED to me to experiment with cockroach-
es. To my delight he devoured them with
avidity; l believe that half a dozen cham
sleons Kept In the kitchen and pantry would
DO away with every roach. particularly
water bugs"
DR.. Stejneger, the reptilian expert OF the
smithsonian Institution. was applied TO for
OF chameleon. Said he:
1t Is not true chameleon. In fact. Il is
not so nearly related to the Chameleon as
the monkey is to man. Its right name is
1ne AnoDs, ana II Is peculiar to America
Though tropical animal, its habitat ex-
tends up into Florida. 1t lives in trees and
sects. VI ~
Here are a couple of true chameleons in
this bottle of alcohol You will observe that
they are very different looking animals from
the anolis. They are not found IN America
but inhabit Africa, the south Of Europe and
southwest Asia There are more than TWEEN
" different species. Some of them attain a
length of sixteen inches when fun grourn
Certain kinds have long horns. They are a
very ancient type of reptile indeed.
one OF their peculiarities has to do with
their feet Each Of these extremfties has
nve toes. but is divided in such a manner
that there are three toes on one side and
TWO on the other. III you will put your hand
IN the position of being about TO grasp and
VIII imagine that you have two thumbs and
only three fingers. you will perceive the like
ness to the foot Of the chameleon. II is
made that way because IL is designed for
grasping the twigs Of trees in which II lives
The animal further assists itself to hold on
by means of its prehensfle tail which a.
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 II is not easy to explain
in few words Beneath the outer skin are
several layers of pigment cells, containing
different hues. When the creature crawls
upon green leaf. the cells containing the
green pigment come to the top, while the
others retreat 1t is the same way with the
other colors produced. OF course. these color
changes are entirely involuntary on the part
of me animal. being merely intended to
conceal II from its enemies"