LIZ Aims. 415 



iuul often raised along the crown like :i lu-lnu't ; the tongue thick, and but slightly 

 notched, and the dorsal crest well develojied. The tuberculated lizard, I. tuberculaUt 

 of the West Indies and South America, is the most familiar type both in illustrations 

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

 presents an uncovith and most repulsive appearance. Its compressed body, high 

 dorsal ridge, and enormous dewlap give to it more the appearance of some taxider- 

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

 slow and inactive, it soon learns to know its keeper, to whoiu 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, jierhaps trusting 

 loo much to their jirotective color, can be closely approached without evincing any 

 alarm. The natives take advantage of this indifference, and while \\\v anunal thus lies 

 gently eyeing the intruder, a noose attached to a long stick is sli]i)iiMl o\ cr its head, and 

 the unsuspecting animal immediately finds itself jerked from its elevated ))ositiou to 

 fall a victim to the omnivorous appetite of man. Being an exclusive vegetarian, feed- 

 ing on flowers, fruits, and fungi, and especially on the leaves of the mangrove, its flesh 

 is palatable, and is white, tender, and nutritious. The pious Pere Lal)at gave, two 

 centuries ago, a very interesting account of the manner in wliicli he s:i\\ llicm cap- 

 tured. " We were attended by a negro who carried a Imit; nid. al diic cncl nl' wjiicli 

 was a piece of whip-cord with a running knot. After liealiiie .■ilmiit tlie Imslies for 

 some time the negro discovered our game basking in klie sun on tlie diy limb of a 

 tree. Hereupon he began whistling with all his might, to whirli ihe nuaiia was won- 

 derfully attentive, stretching out his neck and turning his Ijead as if to enjoy it nun-e 

 fully. The negro now approached, still whistling, and ad\aneed tliis rdd gently, 

 began tickling with the end of it the sides and throat of the t;uana, wlm seemed 

 mightily pleased with the operation, for he turned on his back and stretched himself 

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

 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 

 eiitrapjjed. We caught more in the same way, and kejit one alive seven or eight days: 

 but it greaved me to the heart to find that he thereby lost nnieli ilelieidus fat." Xot 

 only are the iguanas ca]>tured in this w-ay, but they are often chase. I i,, their liurmws 

 or treed by dogs trained for the ]iur[iose. They are orilinariiy ca]itiireil alive, and 

 carried to market by people who thus earn a living at certain seasons nf the veai\ 

 The tuberculated lizard does not often exceed the length of five feet. 



The naked-necked iguana, J. delicatissima, also inhabits the more tropical jioi-tioiis 

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

 it resembles its more abundant relative, though th<' uvrL iias no large tubercles, and 

 the cuticular aj)i)endage of the chin is small and witii only few de.iticiilalions. The 

 horned-iguana of San Domingo, J. cormtta, is characterized by having a coiucal osseous 

 jionit between the eyes, and two raised scales on the nostrils. Thon^li, like tlie 

 previous s])ecies, the scales along the jaws are well developed, there .are no tuberi'les 

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

 igimnas 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 reserves 

 of incipient teeth have little difliculty in supplying the place of those broken off, but 

 the crowns of the teeth ■dvv laterally com])ressed, antl the edges denticulate, bearing 



