MONITORS. 119 



D'Azara states that tliey feed on fruits and 

 insects, as well as on toads, serpents, young 

 chickens, and eggs ; also that they are fond of 

 honey ; and that in order to procure it without 

 fear of the bees, they come forward at intervals, 

 and each time as they run away, they give the 

 hive a blow with their tail, till by repeated 

 attacks they v/eary out the industrious insects, 

 and drive them from their home.* It is not cer- 

 tain that the Sauveguardes are frugivorous ; but 

 there is no doubt that they feed on insects, for 

 MM. Dumeril and Bibron found remains of 

 them in the stomachs of all the individuals which 

 they opened. In one they found the fragments 

 of Coleoptera and the remains of caterpillars ; in 

 another, portions of skin and bones which had 

 certainly belonged to a common Ameiva, 



But two species of this genus are recognised, 

 of which we select for illustration the Teguixin 

 {Teius teguixin, Linn.), as the longest and best 

 known. It is well figured in Madame Merian's 

 splendid but not always faithful plates on the 

 insects, &c., of Surinam, whence some naturalists, 

 in honour of that lady, have distinguished the 

 species by her name Monitor MeriaiKs^ 



This noble Lizard is reported to attain the 

 length of four or even five feet, and a thickness 

 proportionate. Its ground-colour is a deep vel- 

 vety black, beautifully varied with rich yellow 

 spots, sometimes irregularly scattered, sometimes 

 arranged in transverse bands, and sometimes in 

 two longitudinal stripes running the whole length 

 of the body. The face and whole under parts 

 are yellow banded with black, and the posterior 



* This sagacity seems somewhat apocryphal. 



