IGUANAS. 105 



but after some few days it grew more tame, and 

 would at length pass the greatest part of the day 

 upon the bed or couch, but always went out at 

 night. The flesh of this creature is liked by'many 

 people, and frequently served up in fricassees at 

 their tables, in which state it is often preferred to 

 the best fowls. When taken young, the Guana 

 is easily tamed, and is both a harmless and beau- 

 tiful creature in that state." 



In the unpublished MSS. of Dr. Robinson on 

 the Natural History of Jamaica, preserved in the 

 Library of the Jamaica Society, the Iguana is 

 spoken of as famiharly kno^\^l in that island. After 

 some descriptive notes, he observes, — 



" They are said to be inoffensive animals, and 

 meddle with no living creature, unless first at- 

 tacked, when they bite hard. One of them bit a 

 cat's paw quite off, that was held to it ; and I 

 have seen the above snap at a stick that has been 

 held towards it, with great tokens of wrath, sul- 

 lenness, and fierceness. They are found in Salt 

 Pond Hills, where they live upon vegetables and 

 fruit ; and can by the help of their open toes 

 climb upon trees and shrubs. They hide them- 

 selves in holes among the rocks, and' are hunted 

 with small dogs by the negroes, who sell them in the 

 towns to many people who admire them as a great 

 delicacy. Their flesh is said to be very white, 

 tender, and well tasted, and even superior to that 

 of a chicken ; but for my part I never had an 

 opportunity of tasting this animal's flesh. The 

 fat is said to be good to cleanse iron utensils with, 

 and preserve them from rust." 



We think it very probable, however, that 

 both these notes of Robinson's, and those already 



