power of living a long time without food, like many other reptiles, and I suppose that fact gave rise to the fable. It lives on insects, particularly on flies, which it has a most astonishing 'faculty of catching. We had a tame one on board our ship in the Mediterranean in '59. Without moving from its roost, it would catch a fly brought within five or six inches of its nose, and that so quickly you could hardly see how it was done."

"How was it done?" said Ella.

"With its tongue-a curious instrument, which it could stretch out six or seven inches. The tip of it was covered with a sticky substance; and this it would dart out like the very finest kind of a streak of lightning, at a fly or any other insect it fancied, never missing its aim.

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"It must be a very nimble creature," said Rufus, "On the contrary, its tongue is the only nimble thing about it. It walks as if it were a thousand years old, and too decrepit for any exercise. It holds on by its tail, while it slowly lifts one foot, and seems almost to take a nap before putting it down again. We placed ours on a forked branch fastened up in one corner of the cabin, and there it remained,—no danger of its running away: it took half an hour to turn about when arrived at the end of one fork, and all day to travel to the end of the other."

"Was it a pretty creature?"

"Not very, my dear Ella. Rather repulsivelooking, you would have thought it, with its scaly

hide, big head, short neck, and astonishing eyes. The chameleon's eyes are not the least curious part of it. They are set in little holes in its head -each covered with a bit of skin that has just a round hole in the centre, over the pupil. That is the eyelid, which moves as the eye moves. Now, your two eyes move together when you wish to turn them upon any object. But the chameleon's move independently of each other: it will look down with one eye and up with the other, or forward with one eye and back with the other, at the same time." "And can the chameleon change its colour?" asked Rufus.

"The natural colour of ours was a kind of pale green, with dark and light spots, but this was constantly changing to yellow, reddish, bluish, and dark tints, some of them quite beautiful, as the objects around him changed. These changes are said to be owing to the contraction of the

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muscles of the skin. The chameleon will often reflect the colours of surrounding objects; but there are other creatures that also have this power; it seems to be a provision of nature designed to protect them from the eyes of their enemies. Another habit ours had,—that of filling its body and even its tail with air, puffing itself up to nearly twice its natural size, at which times its changes of colour were very remarkable. This habit gave rise to the fable current among the ancients, and until recent times, of chameleons living on air.

"The chameleon is found only in Africa and some

parts of Asia. Lizards abound in the Old World, especially in tropical countries. They run on walls, sun themselves on banks and trees, and dart in and out of the green foliage, amidst which their bright colours shine very prettily. Sometimes thousands of them will be seen about old ruins.

"Some species of lizards are very curious. One of the most remarkable is the 'flying dragon,' found in the Asiatic islands. It has a kind of membranous wings, with which it not only jumps, but sails a considerable distance, like a flying-squirrel, before alighting. Then Then there is the 'fringed dragon,' very similar to the 'flying-dragon'; the 'frilled ' lizard, and

"But I think I have talked enough about reptiles for one night." And Cousin Tim took up the evening paper.

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1 salamander, an animal resembling a lizard. It feeds on worms, snails, slugs, and insects. It is perfectly harmless, though salamanders have long had the reputation of extreme venomousness. Strange fables have been current concerning them, from remote ages, particularly that which attributes to them the power of enduring fire without being burnt. 2 taper, becoming gradually smaller towards one end. 3faculty, power; ability; knack. *nimble, quick; active; brisk; lively. 5 decrepit, wasted or worn by the infirmities of old age. repulsive, unpleasant-looking; repelling; forbidding. contraction of the muscles. Milne Edwards, a great naturalist, has discovered that the power to change colour depends upon the presence of two differently coloured layers of pigment (colouring matter) in the skin. The contraction or drawing together of the skin causes the colour to change. filling its body: the lungs are very large, and are connected with air-cells, that lie among the muscles and beneath the skin; so that the animal has a remarkable power of inflating itself with air. 9 membranous, resembling skin.

THE SHIPWRECK.

As day advanced, the weather seem'd to abate,
And then the leak they reckon❜d to reduce,
And keep the ship afloat, though three feet yet
Kept two hand and one chain pump still in use.
The wind blew fresh again; as it grew late

A squall came on, and while some guns broke loose, A gust, which all descriptive power 'transcends,— Laid with one blast the ship on her beam ends.

Immediately the masts were cut away,

Both 2 main and mizen: first the mizen went, The mainmast follow'd; but the ship still lay Like a mere log, and baffled our intent.

Foremast and bowsprit were cut down, and they
Eased her at last (although we never meant

To part with all till every hope was 'blighted),
And then with violence the old ship righted.

'Twas twilight, and the sunless day went down
Over the waste of waters; like a veil,

Which, if withdrawn, would but disclose the frown
Of one whose hate is masked but to assail.

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Thus to their hopeless eyes the night was shown,

And grimly darkled o'er the faces pale,

And the dim desolate deep: twelve days had "Fear Been their familiar, and now Death was here.

At half-past eight o'clock, 'booms, hencoops, spars,
And all things, for a chance, had been cast loose,
That still could keep afloat the struggling stars;
For yet they strove, although of no great use.
There was no light in heaven but a few stars;

The boats put off o'ercrowded with their crews:
She gave a 'heel, and then a lurch to port,
And, going down head-foremost,-sunk, in short.

Then rose from sea to sky the wild farewell,

Then shriek'd the timid, and stood still the braveThen some leap'd overboard with dreadful yell,

As eager

10 to anticipate their grave;

And the sea "yawn'd around her like a hell,

And down she suck'd with her the whirling wave,
Like one who 12 grapples with his enemy,

And strives to strangle him before he die.

And first one universal shriek there rush'd,
Louder than the loud ocean, like a crash
Of echoing thunder; and then all was hush'd
Save the wild wind and the 13 remorseless dash
Of billows; but at intervals there gush'd,
Accompanied with a convulsive splash,

A solitary shriek, the bubbling cry
Of some strong swimmer in his agony.

'transcends, surpasses; exceeds; goes beyond. The poet means that the gust of wind was so terrible that it was beyond the power of language to describe it. 2 mainmast, the principal mast; mizen mast, mast nearest the stern. foremast, the mast nearest the bow bowsprit, a large spar which projects over the bow of the vessel to carry the sail forward. blighted, withered; destroyed. Every hope of saving the vessel had been given up. whose hate is masked but to assail: this means, whose hatred is concealed or disguised, but only to injure; assault; or attack with violence. So the night hid from the eyes of the people in the ship, the prospect of certain destruction. fear, etc. : for twelve days the people had been in great fear. boom, a long pole or spar used for extending the bottom of sails. tars, sailors. heel, etc., she gave a turn, and then rolled suddenly over on her side. 10 to anticipate, to take up beforehand. Here means to seek before the proper time. "yawned, gaped or opened wide, as if to allow the entrance or exit of anything. 12 grapples, contends in close fight. 13 remorseless, without remorse or pity; relentless. Byron: Lord Byron is one of England's greatest poets. Born 1788; died at Missolonghi in Greece, 1824. (See App.)

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