IGUANAS. 103 



sorted to by the huntsman. He approaches 

 gently, whistling as he advances ; this attracts 

 the attention of the reptile, and appears to please 

 it, for it advances its head further from its re- 

 treat. When the huntsman is come sufficiently 

 near, he gently rubs the end of his pole against 

 the sides and throat of the Iguana, who not 

 only suffers this sort of caress without resist- 

 ance, but appears to return and enjoy it. The 

 huntsman continuing to employ these means, in- 

 duces his victim to expose its head sufficiently to 

 allow him to pass a loop, which is fastened to the 

 end of his pole, over the head and round the neck 

 of the reptile ; and this accomplished, he brings it 

 to the ground with a violent jerk, and places his 

 foot on its body. The Iguana now proves itself 

 less passive than usual, for when it finds its con- 

 fidence deceived, and itself captured, it exerts itself 

 with violence, rolls its sparkling eyes, and inflates 

 its throat ; but such efforts are useless, the hunts- 

 man manages to tie its fore -feet together, and to 

 secure them under the creature's throat, so that it 

 can neither fly nor flght. If taken alive, it appears 

 at first sullen and intractable, but after a time 

 becomes domesticated, and runs about the house 

 and garden with as much confidence as a cat." 



Catesby's account of the Iguana was probably 

 derived from personal acquaintance with it in the 

 Bahama Islands. He says, — 



" These reptiles nestle in hollow trees ; their 

 eggs have not a hard shell Hke those of alli- 

 gators, but a skin only, like those of a turtle, 

 and are esteemed good food. They lay a great 

 number of eggs at a time in the earth, which are 

 hatched by the sun's heat. The Guanas furnish 



