Of a CAMEL IO N.
cauftrh the dilatation which makes the contraftion ; it cannot afterwards
produce the extenfion in the lame Organ e ; and it is to b' fippofd that
the
extenlion proceeds from the rarefa:Cion which is made in one of the two
parts of which this TruticI is compofed, vi~z. in the Nerve whichl is in
the
middle, and that the contraafionl 11 appens when the Rarefaaion is made in
the other part viz. In the Membrane which is without it, by means of a
different Situation of the Fibres in the one and other of thefe Parts: So
as it
is probable that the extending and contrading of the Tongue of other Ani-
mis is performed. But the bignefs and Flefby Subftance of other Tongues
are Difpofitions to perform theft Adions, which are wholly wanting in
that of a Camelion, although this effedls them with incomparably more
Force; which makes that Motion Marvelous, and difficult to Compl-'-
hend.
  But above all the change of Colour will a long time detain the Curious
before they will Difcover the Caufe, and be able to Determine NrV lether
it is
done by Reflexion, as Solini tliinks; or by Suffulfiop, as Seneca is of Opini-
on; or by the change of the Difpofitions of the Particles which do compof&
its Skin, according to the Dodrine of the Carteflians. Yet it is True that
the
Suffufion is moft eafi- to comprehend, cfpecially to thofe wim fliall have
ob-
ferved that the Skin of the Camelion has a Natural Co!our, which is a Beir-
ijqf Gray, which was feen on the infide when it was flea'd; that tiere was
eafily taken away a great number of little Pellicles from above each of the
Eminencies, which are the only Parts of the Skin which do change Colour;
and that thefe thin Skins are Separated, or eafily feparable one from another,
whereas thofe which do compofe the reft of the Skin, are exa&ly faftened
together. For thefe things having been obferved, there will be found fomne
probability to think that Choler wherewith this Animal abounds, being
conveyed to the Skin by the Motion of the Paffions, may creep between
thefe Skinsand that according as the Choler enters under a Pellicle nearer,
or
more remote from the exteriour Superficies of the Eminencies, it Dy's them
rh~v or Green: For it is feen by experience that Telhoav mixt with a Bleivijw
Gray makes a kind of Green; fo that it is eafie to Imagine that the fame
Clio-
Ierfpread under a very thin Pellicle may make it appear Tellow, and that
be-
ing under a thickerSkin it mingles its Tellowv with the Blewjvh-gray of this
Skin,
to produce a Greesnjh-gray, which with the YeLlow are the two Colours that
the Came/ion takes when it is in the Sun, where it Delights its elf : For
when it is moved by things which diffurb it, it is not firange that the Black,
and aduft Humour which is in the Blood, being carryed to the Skin, ffould
there produce the Brown Spots which appear on it when is Angry; even as
we do fee that our Countenance becomes Red, Yellow, or Livid, accord-
ing as the Humours, which are Naturally of thof& different Colours, are
carried thither. By the very fame reafon alfo, when by a contrary Mo.
tion tile Humours, wherewith the Skin is Naturally imbued, do return in-
to the Veffels, or diffipate themfelves, fo that others do not fucceed in
their
Place, theSkin waxeth White by the feparation of the Pellicle,, which do
compofe the little Eminencies; for this Whitenefs happens to them as to our
Epidewrmis or Scarfstin, which being dyedr, and feparated into little Flakes
in thleDifeaf called Pityriajis, the Skin Whitens extraordinarily, -and feems
to be rub'd over with Meal. Abundance of fiich probable reafbns may be
                                                                  found,