Difference between revisions of "Chameleon"

<p> A kind of large lizard, called '''''Koach''''' from its great strength (&nbsp;Leviticus 11:30). Kuebel makes it "the croaking frog"; Gesenius, "the Nile lizard." The word translated "the mole," '''''Tinshemeth''''' , is rather the chameleon, literally, "the inflating animal," as it inflates its body when excited. The '''''Koach''''' answers well to the qecko lizard, small, clumsy, hiding by day in holes, and at night coming forth to prey upon insects. They can crawl like flies on the under side of ceilings by the laminated structure of the under surface of their toes. </p>

<p> a reptile belonging to the saurian or lizard-like order. In the original of &nbsp;Leviticus 11:30, occur the words ''Ko '''''´Ä''''' Ch'' ( '''''כֹּחִ''''' , so called apparently on account of its great ''Strength)'' and ''Tinshe '''''´''''' Meth'' ( '''''תַּנְשֶׁמֶת''''' ), the first of which, in our version, is rendered "chameleon" (after the Sept. and Vulg. '''''Χαμαιλέων''''' , chamaeleon), and the second "mole;" but Bochart and others consider both words as relating to animals of the ''Saurian'' or lizard tribe, and that which our translators have termed the mole is, in reality, the chameleon ''(Chamaeleo Vulgaris),'' while the chameleon of our version is some other and larger creature of the same order, perhaps a species of the land crocodile. (See [[Mole]]). "The chameleon is a small species of lizard, celebrated for the faculty it has of changing the color of its skin. This property, however, has no reference to the substance it may be placed on, as generally asserted, but is solely derived from the bulk of its respiratory organs acting upon its transparent skin and on the blood of the animal. The chameleons form a small genus of saurians, easily distinguished by the shagreened character of the skin, and the five toes on the feet, divided differently from those of most other animals, there being, if the expression may be allowed, two thumbs opposed to three fingers. Their eyes are telescopic, move separately, and can be directed backward or forward. Chameleons are slow, inoffensive, and capable of considerable abstinence from food, which consists solely of flies, caught by a rapid protrusion of a long and viscous tongue. Among themselves they are irascible, and are then liable to change their colors rapidly; dark yellow or gray is predominant when they are in a quiescent state, but, while the emotions are in activity, it passes into green, purple, and even ashy black. The species found in Palestine and all Northern Africa is the common 'African chameleon,' and probably is that referred to in &nbsp;Leviticus 11:30, where unclean animals are mentioned." (See ''Penny Cyclopaedia,'' s.v.). (See [[Lizard]]). </p>

<p> ''''' ka ''''' - ''''' mē´lē̇ ''''' - ''''' un ''''' ( כּח , <i> ''''' kōaḥ ''''' </i> , the Revised Version (British and American) [[Land-Crocodile]] (&nbsp;Leviticus 11:30 ); תּנשמת , <i> ''''' tinshemeth ''''' </i> , the King James Version mole , the Revised Version (British and American) Chameleon (&nbsp;Leviticus 11:30 )): </p> <p> <i> ''''' Kōaḥ ''''' </i> , which in the King James Version is rendered "chameleon" and in the Revised Version (British and American) "land crocodile," means also "strength" or "power," as in &nbsp;Genesis 4:12; &nbsp;1 Samuel 2:9; &nbsp;Psalm 22:15; &nbsp;Isaiah 40:29 , and many other passages. The [[Septuagint]] has χαμαιλέων , <i> ''''' chamailéōn ''''' </i> , but on account of the ordinary meaning of the word, <i> ''''' kōaḥ ''''' </i> , it has been thought that some large lizard should be understood here. The desert monitor, <i> Varanus griseus </i> , one of the largest of lizards, sometime attaining the length of 4 ft., is common in Palestine and may be the animal here referred to. The name "monitor" is a translation of the German <i> warnen </i> , "to warn," with which has been confused the Arabic name of this animal, <i> ''''' waran ''''' </i> or <i> ''''' waral ''''' </i> , a word of uncertain etymology. </p> <p> The word <i> ''''' tinshemeth ''''' </i> in the same verse is rendered in the King James Version "mole" and in the Revised Version (British and American) "chameleon." The Septuagint has ἀσπάλαξ , <i> ''''' aspálax ''''' </i> (= <i> ''''' spálax ''''' </i> , "mole"). <i> ''''' [[Tinshemeth]] ''''' </i> also occurs in the lists of unclean birds in &nbsp;Leviticus 11:18 and &nbsp; Deuteronomy 14:16 , where it is rendered: the King James Version "swan"; the Revised Version (British and American) "horned owl"; Septuagint πορφυρίων , <i> ''''' porphurı́ōn ''''' </i> (i.e. "coot" or, according to some, "heron"); [[Vulgate]] (Jerome's <i> Latin Bible </i> , 390-405 ad) <i> cygnus </i> , "swan." It appears to come from the root <i> ''''' nāsham ''''' </i> , "to breathe"; compare <i> ''''' neshāmāh ''''' </i> , "breath" (&nbsp;Genesis 2:7; &nbsp;Job 27:3 the King James Version, etc.). It has therefore in &nbsp; Leviticus 11:30 been referred to the chameleon on account of the chameleon's habit of puffing up its body with air and hissing, and in the other passages to the pelican, on account of the pelican's great pouched bill. </p> <p> The common chameleon is abundant in Palestine, being found also in North Africa and in Spain. The other species of chameleons are found principally in Africa and Madagascar. It is not only a harmless but a decidedly useful creature, since it feeds upon insects, especially flies. Its mode of capturing its prey is most interesting. It slowly and cautiously advances until its head is from 4 to 6 inches from the insect, which it then secures by darting out its tongue with great rapidity. The pigment cel ls in its skin enable it to change its color from pale yellow to bright green, dark green and almost black, so that it can harmonize very perfectly with its surroundings. Its peculiar toes and prehensile tail help to fit it for its life in the trees. Its prominent eyes with circular lids, like iris diaphragms can be moved independently of each other, and add to its striking appearance. See [[Land Crocodile]]; Mole; [[Swan]]; [[Horned Owl]]; [[Pelican]] . </p>