§172.1Fr. 172
Ὅτι τὰς χρόας μεταβαλλόμενοι καὶ ἐξομοιούμενοι φυτοῖς καὶ τόποις καὶ λίθοις οἷς ἂν πλησιάσωσι πολύπους ἐστὶ καὶ χαμαιλέων καὶ τὸ θηρίον ὁ τάρανδος ὃ ἐν Σκύθαις φασὶν ἢ Σαρμάταις γίνεσθαι.
That those which change their colors and assimilate themselves to plants, places, and stones that they approach are the octopus, the chameleon, and the wild beast called the tarandos, which they say arises among the Scythians or Sarmatians.
Μεταβάλλει δʼ ὁ χαμαιλέων εἰς πάντα τὰ χρώματα, πλὴν τὴν εἰς τὸ λευκὸν καὶ τὸ ἐρυθρὸν οὐ δέχεται μεταβολήν· καὶ οὐ πρὸς τὰ παρακείμενα μόνον χρώματα μεταβάλλει ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς καθʼ ἑαυτὸν ἐάν τις μόνον ἅψηται αὐτοῦ τὸ χρῶμα μεταβάλλει.
The chameleon changes into all colors, except that it does not admit change into white and red; and it does not change its color only in relation to adjacent colors, but also by itself, if someone merely touches it, it changes its color.
§172.2Ὁ δὲ τάρανδος τὸ μὲν μέγεθός ἐστι κατὰ βοῦν τὸ πρόσωπον δὲ ὅμοιος ἐλάφῳ πλὴν πλατύτερος ὡσανεὶ ἐκ δύο συγκείμενος ἐλαφείων προσώπων.
The tarandos is in size like an ox, and in face similar to a deer, except broader, as if composed of two deer's faces.
Δίχηλον δʼ ἐστὶ καὶ κερασφόρον· ἔχει δὲ τὸ κέρας ἀποφυάδας ὥσπερ τὸ ἐλάφου, καὶ τριυ χωτόν ἐστι διʼ ὅλου· περὶ γὰρ τὸ ὀστοῦν δέρματός ἐστιν ἐπίτασις ὅθεν ἡ ἔκφυσις.
It is cloven-hoofed and horned; and it has horns with branches like those of a deer, and is hairy all over; for around the bone there is an extension of skin from which the growth of hair comes.
Τὸ δὲ δέρμα τῷ πάχει δακτυλιαῖόν ἐστιν ἰσχυρὸν δὲ σφόδρα, διὸ καὶ τοὺς θώρακας ἐξαυάζοντες αὐτὸ ποιοῦνται.
The skin is a finger's breadth in thickness and extremely strong, wherefore they dry it and make breastplates out of it.
Σπάνιον δὲ τὸ ζῶον καὶ ὀλιγάκις φαινόμενον.
The animal is rare and seldom seen.
§172.3Θαυμαστὴ δʼ ἡ μεταβολὴ καὶ ἐγγὺς ἀπιστίας· τοῖς μὲν γὰρ ἄλλοις ἐν μεταβολὴ καὶ ἐγγὺς ἀπιστίας· τοῖς μὲν γὰρ ἄλλοις ἐν τῷ δέρματι γίνεται ἡ μεταβολὴ ἀλλοιουμένης τῆς ἐντὸς ὑγρότητος εἴτε αἱματώδους ἢ καί τινος ἄλλης τοιαύτης οὔσης, ὥστε φανερὰν εἶναι τὴν συμπάθειαν.
But this change is marvelous and close to incredible; for in other animals the change occurs in the skin, as the internal moisture, whether it be bloody or of some other such kind, undergoes alteration, so that the sympathy is manifest.
Ἡ δὲ τῶν τριχῶν μεταβολὴ ξηρῶν τε ὄντων καὶ ἀπηρτημέυ νων καὶ ἀθρόον οὐ πεφυκότων ἀλλοιοῦσθαι παράδοξος ἀληθῶς καὶ ἀπίθανος, μάλιστα πρὸς πολλὰ ποικιλλομένη.
But the change of hairs, which are dry and detached, and not naturally disposed to alter all at once, is truly paradoxical and unbelievable, especially when it is variegated into many colors.
§172.4Ὁ δὲ χαμαιλέων δοκεῖ τῷ πνεύματι ποιεῖν τὰς μεταβολὰς, πνευματικὸν γὰρ φύσει.
The chameleon seems to effect its changes by means of its breath, for it is by nature pneumatic.
Σημεῖον δὲ τὸ τοῦ πνεύμονος μέγεθος· σχεδὸν γὰρ διʼ ὅλου τοῦ σώματος τέταται· ἅμα δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐξαιρόμενος καὶ φυσώμενος.
The evidence is the size of its lungs; for it extends through almost the whole of its body; and at the same time the animal itself is raised up and puffed out.