Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-07-30
THE FLORIDA CHAMELEON.
How 1t Changes Its Color and Drops
on Its Tail-Unsurpassed ~
Ca


From the Florida Times Union and Citizen
One of the most characteristic creatures
in Florida Is the so-cailed chameleon or
pigmy lizard (Anolis principalis), which is
found in all parts of the state, Although
called chameleon.it bears no resemblance
to its namesake in Asia or Africa, except
| the power TO change its hue. and that
change is due TO a desire to secure food
Or to protect itself from iOeS by assuming
the color OF its immediate surroundings.
II placed on a piece of whi,e paper IT
becomes of snowy hue in appearance in
Il lew moments, transferred to bush IL
becomes pale green. and placed on the
ground 1t assumes the color OF the soil
| Very rapidly.
| Its ordinary hue on the ground is
brownish black and II may retain that for
| some time after climbing a tree, but on
the approach of Zoe its Transformation
scene" takes place with magical rapidly.
tranquility or anger sunshine or shadow,
| hunger or plenty of food. affects its color,
which seems to change with the state OF its
feelings
Few persons would consider that this
graceful and active little creature bore
| any relationship to such unsainly brutes as
| the crocodile and alligator, yet ii Is a inem-
der of the same family and one OF the con-
| Meeting links between the saurians and
| ophidians, or snakes.
| IL Is merely a piSmy alligator adapted
| TO living entirely on land, and modified in
form and character by its mode of life
Among its kindred are the gavials. skinks
| croeodiies. gechoes and iguanas. All are
carnivOrous, the smaller feeding on insects
| and the larger on whatever they can cap
ture. One OF the nearest living relatives
OF the chameleon in the United States is
| the ella monster of Arizona, yet no TWO al
| lied creatures can be more dissimilar in
character, the former being active. grace
| fui and gentle, the latter ill natured,
| moody and sluggish and secreting poison
SO venomous tnat it is dangerous even 10
man and the higher quadrupeds. The ella
monster is a foot in length and the ehaine-
| icon ABOUT SIN inches,
All lizards present the phenomenon OF
beins able to renew their tails after they
nave been cut on and the tails retain life
Tor a considerable time after being severed
| from the body.
The caudal of lizard being brittle and
! easily snapped off gave rise TO the tales in
the glass snake, which could fall to pieces
on being hit. and then reunite, no matter
| how far apart the pieces might be.
We know that if the earth worm Is cut
| in halves 1t can develop a perfect animal
is itom each part; but no thinker believes II
can es,, reunite when chopped into bits. or
produce complete body.
The chameleon's tail is three inches long.
ana tapers 10 thread-like point. The
mead mead Is nat and somewhat pyr.torm: the
| eyes are gentle in appearance, bright and
alert: the teeth sharp; fine and numerous
and the body long and slender.
| It has four less. and the hind pair are
| specially fitted for rapid running and long
| jumping; being widely set and elongared
The feet are large compared to the size Of
Thssa Inc BODY: and the toes are ;. spreading.
| very high and to travel over ground with a
ceierity which fully entities 1t to the name
OF swift. have seen 1t jump two feet In
| the air after a fly, and outrun a cat in a
distance of sixty feet.
| The chameleon is unsurpassed among
quadrupeds as fiy-catcher, and is as ef-
| fective in this way on trees as the toad is
| on the ground. 1t wand RS ever a tree for
| hours together, closely scanning the foliage
! and promptly gobbling down all the ediole
insects il meets.
The dainty manner in which 1t holds an
| insect in its mouth before devouring it is
rather amusing. for it looks as il 1t were
feVehng In anticipation. 1t may carry a
ny in this manner for several minutes be-
| fore eating it,just as a cat carries a mouse
then sulp 1t suddenly.
Some of the negroes think the creature
| Is poisonous and try to kill it. but they
never repeat the effort in my presence. for
| l consider 1t one of the best friends of the
| farmer.
the chameleon has faults that are more ap-
| life.
1t win. for instance. rapidly reduce the
number OF inhabitants of an apiary IL II
can force an entrance. yet 1t is not as bad
In that way as a toad, because il cannot eat
som so much bands and is not SO quick in catching in
tected from its ravages
The chameleon puts out its little throat
occasionally, as if 1t were very angry and
mere demonstration % for it me never e1. assaIs IS lis
anything fiercer than a lively fly or a fat
caterpillar: This trick of eniarging It's di-
ancestors, which frequently used it to
blur hungry but cautious foes, who
looked upon size as an indication of
present day make a similar display when
approached on land. and exhale a strong
musky smell. as If they depended on their
feSio feroeions ~ mi mien and pungent odor to