Guana, Lizards, 583 



I had once thought that at the time of developemeait from 

 the egg, the colour was determined, and the animal had only 

 to proceed in search of a spot suited to the natural varieties 

 of its coat : but this idea is immediately contradicted by a 

 captured specimen placed under a vase. 



The Guana has in its youth much more lovely colours than 

 its parents ; and, during the periods of casting off the cutaneous 

 exuviae, the tints of lizards are affected : but the power of 

 change in the chamaeleons and the Anolidae is altogether as 

 voluntary and premeditated as it is inexplicable. In the latter 

 tribe it is not, perhaps, so rapid as it is said to be in the 

 former. 



[In another part of Mr. Guilding's notes, there is the fol- 

 lowing remark on the guana, made in reply to the query on 

 «« edible lizards " in I. 495. 



The common guana is eaten over the whole West Indies, 

 and is reckoned equal in delicacy to a rabbit or fricasseed 

 chicken. The eggs, also, are said to be delicious. I have a 

 friend who shoots all he can find, and purchases every one 

 brought to him, for his table.] 



I may probably institute a course of experiments on our 

 lizards, and communicate the results in a future Number. 



[These results have not been communicated to us. As this 

 remark was written in 1830, and the author died in 1832, he 

 might not have instituted the experiments.] 



iLizards like Music.'] — The assertion that spiders are at- 

 tracted by music (I. 158.) is by no means incredible. Every 

 child in the West Indies is aware how much the lizards are 

 delighted with musical sounds, and how quickly they are 

 drawn from distant spots to listen to the melody. I often 

 whistle to some curious listener, and can easily discern his 

 delight at my rude attempts : his ears are turned in mute 

 attention, his eyes are soon closed, and he is totally absorbed 

 and absent. In this state it is of course easily destroyed. 



Our Common Green Species is a harmless, pretty, graceful, 

 and useful animal : in houses where they are protected and 

 caressed, I have known them tame enough to eat sugar from 

 one's hand. As in other species, the mutilated tail soon buds, 

 and is restored, and sometimes with monstrous appendages, 

 or multiplication. Cats which feed on them, on my grape 

 arbours, where they are troublesome among the ripe fruit, 

 grow lean and sickly. 



ISt. Vincent, May 1. 1830.] 



[For other facts on the habits of lizards, in Jamaica, see 

 Mr. Sells in V. 476, 477. 653.] 



r p 4 



