LTZ.\nD<J. 415 



and often raisefl along the crown like a liclnid; tlio tongue tliick, -awX Imt slightly 

 notched, an<l the dorsal crest well develoj)ed. The tuberculate<l li/.ard, /. tiiberciduta 

 of the West Indies and South America, is the most familiar ly])e both in illustrations 

 and as museum and menagerie specimens. To tliose unfamiliar with the animal, it 

 presents an uncouth and most re)iulsive appearance. Its compressed body, liigh 

 dorsal ridge, and enormous dewlap gi\c to it more the a])]>earance of some ta.xider- 

 mist's fancy tliau an animal naturally designed and modified. Tliough in confinement 

 slow and inactive, it soon learns to know its keeper, to whom it shows a decided 

 preference. In their native haunts, during the warmer portions of the day, they 

 climb some low tree and stretch themselves in the sun, their tail hanging down like 

 that of a snake. When thus basking they are not easily aroused, and, perhaj)s trusting 

 too much to their protective color, can be closely aj)proached without evincing any 

 alarm. The natives take advantage of this in<lifference, and while tiie animal thus lies 

 gently eyeing the intruder, a noose attached to a long stick is sli]i]ied over its head, and 

 the unsuspecting animal immediatelv finds itself jerked from its elevated position to 

 fall a victim to the omni\orous ajijietite of man. Being an exclusive vegetarian, feed- 

 ing on fTowers, fruits, and fungi, and especially on the leaves of the mangrove, its tlesh 

 is jialatable, and is white, tender, and nutritious. The jiious I'ere Labat gave, two 

 centuries ago, a very interesting account of the manner in which he saw them cap- 

 tured. " We were attended by a negro who carried a long rod, at one end of which 

 was a piece of whiji-cord with a running knot. After beating about the bushes for 

 some time the negro discovered our game basking in the sun on the dry limb of a 

 tree. Hereupon he began whistling with all his might, to which the guana was won- 

 derfully attentive, stretching out his neck and turning his head as if to enjoy it more 

 fidly. The negro now approached, still whistling, and advanced this rod gentlv, 

 began tickling with the end of it the sides and throat of the guana, who seemed 

 mightily jdeased with the operation, for he turned on his l>ack and stretched himself 

 out like a cat before the fire and at length fell asleep, which the negro ]ierceiving, 

 dexterously slipped a noose over his head, and with a jerk brought him to the ground. 

 And good sport it afforded, to see the creature swell like a turkey-cock to find himself 

 entrapjied. Wc caught more in the same way, and kept one alive seven or eight days; 

 but it greaved mo to the heart to find that he thereby lost much delicious fat." Not 

 only are the iguanas cajitured in this way, but they are often chased to their burrows 

 or treed by dogs trained for the purpose. They are ordinarily captured alive, and 

 earned to market by people who thus earn a living at certain seasons of the year. 

 The tubei'culated liz:u-(l docs not often exceed the length of five feet. 



The naked-necked iguana, /. (Mirntiiisinia, also inhabits the more tropical jiortions 

 of America, and is, too, an im])ortant animal for food. In general form and habits 

 it resembles its more abundant relative, though the neck has no large tubercles, and 

 the cuticular a]i]iendage of the chin is small and with only few denticulations. The 

 horned-iguana of San Domingo, I. cornuta, is characterized by having a conical osseous 

 point between the eyes, and two raised scales on the nostrils. Though, like the 

 previous species, the scales along the jaws are well developed, there are no tubercles 

 on the neck nor broad plate below the ears. The teeth of this and other related 

 iguanas are very peculiar and characteristic. Not only are they placed along the in- 

 side of each jaw, merely attached nistead of inserted into alveoli, so that the reserve 

 of incipient teeth have little difficulty in supplying the ]jlaei' of those broken off, but 

 the crowns of the teeth arc laterally comju-essed, and the edges denticulate, bearing 



