named Behemoth and Leviathan in the Scriptures, 321 



From the context, it appears that this was a saurian, although 

 this is not expressly stated. On the living cayman and 

 iguana, the object of Mr. Thompson's discussion has not led 

 him to give more than incidental information. We would 

 here add, not in relation to Mr. Thompson's argument, but in 

 contribution to the history of these animals, two short notices 

 on their habits, which are incidentally given in an account of 

 " An Excursion [in Demerara], in search of Orchidese, up 

 the River Masseroni, which falls into the Essequibo about a 

 Hundred Miles from its Mouth. By Mr. John Henchman." 

 This account is published in The Gardener's Magazine, the 

 Number for March, and includes mentions of some other 

 animals. 



{The Cayman.] — " Look towards the muddy bank of the 

 river, and you will see what you would mistake for a log 

 of wood ; but, as the canoe approaches^ it rolls sluggishly 

 into the water, and you perceive it to be an alligator, or cay- 

 man. The Indians shot several of these animals, while bask- 

 ing in the sun, with their arrows : the largest of those shot 

 might have been from 6 ft. to 7 ft. long. They appear to 

 sleep exceedingly sound ; as it twice happened that I shot a 

 bird in a tree immediately above a cayman (which we did not, 

 at first, perceive) without disturbing the monster; for we 

 afterwards pulled in, and shot both." 



{The Guana.'] ..." Or, passing under some overhanging 

 tree, observe crouched, on one of the branches, the guana, 

 which is of the lizard species, about 3 ft. to 4 ft. from the 

 nose to the end of the tail, and which possesses a coat com- 

 posed of scales nearly as strong as those of the alligator. 

 Paddle now, with great caution, to a position favourable for 

 shooting the guana : for the least noise will cause it to drop 

 into the river, and the chance is lost. Take a steady aim 

 with your gun at the belly, and fire : the guana, shot dead, 

 falls from the tree into the river; and again you would be 

 deprived of your prey, did not one of the Indians dart out of 

 the canoe, and, diving with the speed of lightning, recover 

 the fast-sinking body. The guana affords a delicious meal; 

 and, when roasted Indian fashion, with the skin on, the flesh 

 is more white and tender than that of any kind of animal I 

 have ever seen, not excepting a barn-door fowl." See also 

 VII. 583. 



" The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in king's 

 palaces." (Proverbs, xxx. 28., not 25.) In I. 375. is an abs- 

 tract of Dr. Scott's reasons for deeming " spider " a mis- 

 translation for "lizard; " and in IV. 151., a mention of other 

 authors who have held an opinion to the same amount.] 



Vol. VIII. — No. 50. z 



