University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1908-11-13

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III tiles that are kept as pets, the
- chameleon is probably the most
nteresting-certainly the most bizarre
in appearance. Unfortunately, thev are
very susceptible to cold, and therefore
difficult to keep through the ever-vary.
ing climatic conditions of a Northern
winter. Nevertheless, so quaint, inter-
esting and amusing pet is the ehame-
leon that it will well repay one for all
the trouble or care lavished upon If
Certainly the most successful method Of
keeping chameleOns would be to LOT
them have the run of small conserva.
tory, kept at an even temperature of
about Is degrees to 20 degrees Fahr..
and in which there were a few dwarf
trees for them to climb about. a cbean
and successful method, where con.
servatOry is out of the question. is tn
have a wooden cage, with glass front
and sides, and a shallow watcr-tank
floor. The water in the tank can quite
easily be kept at an even temperature
by means of spirit lamp placed beneath
it. In such cages the author has kent
chameleons and boa constructors most
successfully, and at very small cost.
Popular imagination has assigned to
the chameleon the power of changing
through all the colors of the rainbow.
but its actual performance falls short
of this, some colors being quite beyond
it's powers. However, the chameleon ia
something of quick change artist
and can pass through series of vel
lows, grays, greens, browns, to almost
black; moreover, it can accomplish that
feat which is beyond the power of the
leopard, for it can, and does, change the
color of its spots. The main factors
that cause the rapid changes of color are
anger, excitement, fear, warmth. cold
and death. In the full blaze of the
summer sun the chameleon assumes a
blackish hue, with pale, pinkish yellow
spots and ventral stripe.
What quaint, archaic appearance the
chameleon presents, more like the ere
alton of some monkish sculpture, a stone
devil of Notre Dame" come to life, or
some survivor from a past geological
age. The toes, in their arrangement of
three on one side and two on the other
of each hand and foot, are singularly
suggestive of bird, as is also the man
ner in which they grasp the bough upon
which the chameleon is resting or climb
ing. The constantly changing facial ex-
pressions are very quaint and laughable.
There is always a look of sardonic hu-
NOR lurking around the lines of the
mouth and it is greatly increased by the
weird effects produced by the independ-
emily moving eyes, indeed, the little
reptile is a champion squinter. Ana
there are at least two most
interesting points about the chameleon.
First. it is unique among limbed reptiles
as the possessor of a prehensile tail;
and. secondly, for the peculiar blind out
growths of the lungs, which, spreading
through the body, literally enable the
animal to "swell wisibly."
Generally speaking, the body of the
chameleon presents very lean and
appearance, and can, by the
of the muscles living between
the ribs, become still more attenuated.
This contraction generally takes place
On the chameleon observing the APP
9roaeh OF foe and is accompanied by
change Of color to a tint closely re-
that of its surroundings, max
ng it practically impossible to detect the
xhereabouts of the reptile. For its size q
he chameleon has a very hot and m-
sovernable temper. and if disturbed and
provoked will swell out it's body, hiss,
make violent snaps with its jaws, and
mango from one color to another with
,reat rapidity. By this sudden and ex-
raordinary display of wrath it very
asily startles and puts to flight its
mailer, unwelcome visitors.
10 watch chameleon feeding is real
wonderful and most interesting :
light. The chameleon, resting absolute 5
motionless upon a bough, except for
he Independent rolling of its eyes,
watches until an insect comes within
he length of about its body and tail.
hen suddenly the long, feshy, cylin-
rleal tongue, with its curious lobed.
up shaped end, is shot out, and the
ictim is stuck fast to it by viscid
ecretion and drawn into the hungry
mouth. If in healthy condition the
hameleon thoroughly enjoys a tepid 81
pray bath, administered by the aid Of
garden syringe. The water used
hould never be quite cold but with )
Iist the chill Off 1t also likes to lick
he water off the leaves of the bush or
hrub upon which it has taken up its
bode Although not exactly of an a.
ectionate disposition, it soon learns TO