Gardnerville record. (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1898-1902, 1898-11-15

One of the most characteristics creatures
In Florida Is the SO called chameleon or
pygmy lizard (Anolis principalis), which
ls found In all parts OF the state AL
! though called a chameleon, 1t bears no re.
seublance to It's nemesake In Asia and
Africa, except the power TO change its hue
and that change Is due to desire to pro-
cure food or to protect itself from foes by
assuming the color of It's immediate sur
foundings
II placed on a piece of white paper, II
becomes Of o snowy hue in appearance In
a few moments. Transferred to q bush, II
becomes pale green, and placed on the
ground 1t assumes the color of the soil
very rapidly.
It's ordinary hue on the ground is u
brownish black and 1t may retain that
for some time after climbing a tree. bur
on the approach of foe It's 'transforma-
bion scene" takes place with magical ra
pidity.
tranquility or anger. sunshine or shad
NV, hunger or plenty of food. Affects its
] oolor, which seems to change with the
state of its feelings.
+ Few persons would consider that this
graceful and actiYe little creature bore any
relationship 10 such ungainly brutes a.
the crocodile and alligator, yet il Is
nieinber Of the same family and one of the
connecting links between the saurians and
/ ophidians, or snakes.
| Il is merely n pygmy alligator adapted
70 living entirely on land and modified In
+ form aud character by its inode of life
Among its kindred are tho gsvisis. skinks
erocodiles, geokoos and iguanas. All eno
oarnlyurous, tho smaller feeding on in.
| aects and the larger on whatever they can
capture Ono of the nearest living rola.
tivos Of tho chameleon IN the United States
! IL the Gila DiolsteF Of Arizona, yet no two
allied creatures can be more dissimiar Ia
character, tho former being active. grace.
ful and gentle tlio latter III tempered
moody and sluggish and seerotlng a poison
so venomoCs that 10 IL dangerous even 10
man and the higher quadrupods. The
Gils monster is foot In length and tbs
chameleon about six inches
All lizsrJs present the phenomenon o?
being colo to rane@ their tails after they
hive been Cut OF, and the tails rotain lifs
FOR = considerable time after being severed
from the body
The eaudai OF lizard, being brittle and
easily snapped of- gave rise to tho tales IL
circulation sfnong old farmers concerning
the glass snake which could fall to pieces
Pi LAt-fR sAsA s+ftA htANA AiAAttNIi Afc AAAastiA
hoH - apart the pieces might be
The chameleon > tail Is thiea inches long
eud tspers 10 Z threadlike point The hosd
Is fiat cad sonewhat pyriform. the eyes
ore eeatle IL appearance. bright and alert;
tie teeth sharp, hno and numeious ana
the body long ana slender.
II has four legs. and the hind pair ere
specially ttfec for rapid rnnpiug and long
jumping, being widely set and elongated
The feet aro large, oomp2rsal - ..ss s.1s =.
the body. ard the 1oes broad spreading
There characteristics enable 10 - ts,irD.
very high aud 10 travel over ground with
celerity which fully entities IL TO the
name OF swift. have seen It jump two
feet into tho air eltor fy aEd outrun a
eat in q disesaog Of 60 feet.
The chameleon is unsurpassed among
quadrupeds rs Z hyoatchef and IL as effect
I've In this way On trees - the toad is on
tho ground. Il wanGors ever a tree for
hours togothor closely scanning the foil.
ago and promptly gobbilss down al The
edible insects IL meets.
The dainty manner In which Il haias an
insect 10 lts mouth before desouring it S
rather amusing, for &c looks as II 1t were
reyeling In anticipation it may carry
ay In this manner for several minutes be
fore eating 81, just rs & cat carries i
mouse. then gulp it suddenly.
Some nf tie negroes think the oreat,ir,
is poisonous nnd try to KIN it, but they
never repeat tho effort Ia my presence, Tor
| consider it one Of the best friends of the
farmer.
Like every other creature on this planet
the chameleon has faults that ara more
apparent than real, considering Its mode
Of life
II viii, for Instance, rapidly reduce the
number of the inhabitants of an apiary Ii
10 can force on entrance, yet 1t Is not as
bad ia that way as toad, because IL can.
not eat so much snd IL not 50 quick In
catching insects. BeehiSes should there
foro be protected from It's reVages
The most ruthless enemy of the chalne
leon IL the strike, or butcher bird, because
it pounces upon 10 suddenly and taking
II 60 convenient tree or bush, fasrens Il
on A thorn with mice beetles aud other
creatures ond leaves it suspended until it
IL needed for food This bird destroys faf
more than Il requires, many boing loft on
the thorns until they fall to pieces from
decomposition
The chameleon, being OF fearless dis
position, is easily tanned by kindness, and
II given the run OF the house soon hecomes
familiar with the human Inmates end
takes aies from their hands After eating
1t cocks its little brown eyes frat on one
side then on the other as much as 70 as.
Il there are any moro daintios, and when
il docs not get them it scurtles away Z
some fayorite retreat, generally sunny
nook near the window
The chameleon puifs out Its little throat
occasionally, Us II It were very angry and
ready to attack everything, hut that Il all
mere demonstration, for II never assails
anything fercer than a lively fly or Cat
caterpillar This trick Of enlarging its dl'
inensions is a trait Inherited from remote
ancestors, which frequently used IL TO
bluff" hungry but cautious foes, who
/ looked upon size as an indication oi
strength and ferocity The saurians OF the
present day make similar display when
| approached on land and exhale strong,
mushy smell, as il they depended on their
ferooous men and pungent oGor TO fright
on their enemies
The conditions OF the chameleon nTe
such that II viii exist long after eiiigators
have disappeared from the living fauna. -
Florida Times [ Mon and Citizen.
Alt AA