These animals also have a
tail, larger in some of them, smaller in others, and the reason for
this has been stated in general terms in an earlier passage.
Of all oviparous animals that live on land there is none so lean
as the Chamaeleon. For there is none that has so little blood. The
explanation of this is to be found in the psychical temperament of the
creature. For it is of a timid nature, as the frequent changes it
undergoes in its outward aspect testify. But fear is a
refrigeration, and results from deficiency of natural heat and
scantiness of blood. We have now done with such sanguineous animals as
are quadrupedous and also such as are apodous, and have stated with
sufficient completeness what external parts they possess, and for what
reason they have them.
12
The differences of birds compared one with another are differences
of magnitude, and of the greater or smaller development of parts. Thus
some have long legs, others short legs; some have a broad tongue,
others a narrow tongue; and so on with the other parts. There are
few of their parts that differ save in size, taking birds by
themselves. But when birds are compared with other animals the parts
present differences of form also. For in some animals these are hairy,
in others scaly, and in others have scale-like plates, while birds are
feathered.
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