COLOR Of THE CHAMELEON.

Otago Witness, Issue 802, 13 April 1867, Page 17

COLOR Of THE CHAMELEON.

(From the Intcl'cclual Observer;) > The color of the chameleon i 9 subject to continual 'chance; but if a creature 'that rarely retains the same hue for ten minutes together can be'faid to possess one w.hich may be termed its own, it is dusky brown, or almost black, nearly approaching to the darkness of foot. This it i 9 which it assumes when it compresses its sides, j ond places its body with the plane of itsisurface to be exposed to the direct beards of the sun, so as to receive the full benefit of its' ray ft; of which, "as* we sball have'further to remark, the light is of more importance to its health and comfcrt than the heat. . . - Desirous of obtaining knowI ledge of the temperature of its body at nine o'clock of the evening of the 18th of August, when a thermometer in the room stood at C4dep, this instrument was moved carefully to the side of the chameleon, when the color changed from yellow^ to ereenisb, and then to.deerer green, followed by purple spots, and it expanded itself by inhaling air — an action which sometimes is accompanied with a rushing or hissinpr sound, the lungs appearing to occupy the lower portion of the belly. While the thermometer lay in contact with its side, io a few minutes it. rose to 68dec ; and a few hours afterwards, when the animal wes etill 1 asleep and distended with air, with the color a light yellowish green, and the thermometer in' the room stood at 63(3eg, on its being applied to the Bide it again rose to r 6Bdeg. At ,this time, although the touch of the thermometer did not cause it to awake, two ■rowgof purple spots made their appearance °on - the former ground ; and it wa3 observed ,that whenever two rows pf spots were produced they were large, and in one. situation and, direction. 'i On another evening, at- eleven- o'clock, wheirthe> thermometer stood' at -62deg, - and ; the ' chameleon was asleep, with its color light yellow, although the touch -of the instrument did pot cauße it to awake, yet the color changed to darker, and it became covered with' numerous'purple lines; and, theD^ in 'a few minutes, the colour was dark green with obscure p.urple spots. But both sides do not always adopt the same colours ; for while Basking in the^ sun with the side' towards the light a very dark brown, the shaded side was lighter* with green tinta, and' two large rows of 'purple spots, and yet sometimes spots in the same, order 1 are altogether white. When asleep at night the colour was quite yellow, ,-with two rows of white spots ; on holding a lighted candle at only a sufficient distance to communicate warmth, the side thus • acted on became of ' a uniform brown, while the other side continued of the former light yellow. Afterwards, while still asleep, and the color was yellow with two rows of white' spots, when a candle was held within the distance of three inches, the side exposed to the candle became brown with a row of deeper brown spots, and the other side continued with the unchanged light yellow and white spots ; the change when it took place not requiring more than a ' minute, and within a • minnte , afterwards; on removing the candle,- both , sides were of a greenish yellow- with two rows of large purple spots. When the stick on which it rented was touched gently, without waking it, it became instantly covered all over, with minute brown spots. \ Qn another occasion, when the color was altogether yellow, a book was held 'so as to cast a shade on the anterior part of the body, ■ while a candle was held within four inches of the hindmost portion; and then, presently, the illuminated part was changed to a * light brown, while the shaded pora tion remained as before;' and when , the screen was removed the exact limit of [j the shade was visible. When again the s I color was yellow with two rows of white spots, in breathing on it so gently that c nothing bejond the warmth of the breath c could have been perceived, it immediately '; became covered with minute brown Bpots '' on, both its sides ; pud at all times it was discerned by examination with a lens, that the colors existed entirely in the very small c tubercles with which the body was covered, a and cot in the skin which lay between .. them. i, —^ " Thero are in Melbourne," says the t " Argus," men of a most benevolent aspect, who walk about from, door to door humbly c soliciting donations on behalf of this or that c charityi for the promotion of which, they », wish it to be understood, they gratuitously I, give a large portion of their valuable time. c Some persons, 1 lessed with unsuspecting natures, when applied to in this manner s gejjerally give something for the purpose r named, without taking the trouble to make - inquiries either as to tha character ol; the * applicant, or the justice of his recpieit. r Perhaps, however, a case which came b fore y the Ciiy Court yesterday will cause them to *. be a little more cautious in future. A msn i- named William Doherty was , aroused of r fraudulent ( y jonverting 16s to his own use d He had collected the money with the avowed .s object of burying the child of a poor woman, " but instead' of applying it to such a purpose if he kept ithiajself. Mr Sturr, after severely y lecturing him, sent him to gaol for seven days,"