Zoological Society. 497 



at the same degree of maturity. Nor are the eggs always disposed, 

 as I have seen it stated, in two rows, one on each side of the belly of 

 the female. When very small, they are arranged in a long irregular 

 cluster, closely packed together, and they seem to retain the same 

 relative position as they increase in size. The eggs are very hablc 

 to destruction from ants, which fact probably accounts for their being 

 usually deposited in sea sand. They are also hunted for and eaten 

 by the Pilori {Mus pilorides), or " Rat Musque," and by a bird 

 called the "Trembler." They are soft and without any white, and 

 their shell resembles the most beautiful kid used for French gloves, 

 of a very Ught straw-colour. They are about the size of those of a 

 pigeon, but rather longer ; they vary however in dimensions, accord- 

 ing to the age and size of the Iguana. 



This Iguana is not averse to water, when not too cold, taking to it 

 only when the sun is shining ; in fact, not moving about much at any 

 other time. Its mode of swimmmg differs from that of other lizards, 

 inasmuch as it places its four legs close by the side of its body, and 

 svrims entirely with its taU. It dives with great facUity, and remains 

 sometimes for a considerable time under water. I believe that the 

 Iguana never ventures into the sea. The tail is a very valuable limb ; 

 for besides bemg the sole means of swimming possessed by the ani- 

 mal, it is of great use in cUmbing trees, although not prehensile ; and 

 it is a most important weapon of defence, a blow from it being fre- 

 quently sufficient to inflict a severe wound. In fact, this reptile is 

 rather formidable when brought to bay in the woods. It is hunted 

 by the natives with dogs trained for the purpose. The dog imme- 

 diately upon scenting it gives tongue, and if on the grovmd, the dog 

 seizes it by the back, and either kills it or maims it, which makes its 

 capture easy ; if in a tree, the Iguana is either shaken down, a matter 

 ordiuarily of no small difficulty, or the branch is cut off. It is almost 

 useless to attempt to find these reptiles without dogs, as the resem- 

 blance of their colour to that of the trees they inhabit prevents them 

 from being easily seen. Few dogs but those accustomed to the sport 

 will touch them, as, in addition to the blows which they inflict with 

 their tails, they bite and scratch furiously ; and when once they lay 

 hold of anything with their teeth, they can only be made to let go by 

 an inducement to bite, some other attractive object being offered to 

 them. They rvm into holes when chased, if an opportunity offers, 

 and when their eyes are hidden from vdew, they fancy that their whole 

 body is safely covered. The flesh, particularly of the female, is a 

 great dehcacy ; it is cooked in various ways, sometimes in a fricassee, 

 with the eggs whole, sometimes roasted or stewed. The eggs have a 

 very glutinous taste. The flesh is said to disagree with some con- 

 stitutions, although it does not, I believe, as has been asserted, dis- 

 agree peculiarly with those persons who have been affected with vene- 

 real diseases. 



This Iguana is said by some of the natives to eat hzards and in- 

 sects, but I have opened several, and I have never succeeded in find- 

 uig any but vegetable matter in the stomach, sometimes, however, 

 covered with innumerable small worms, the eggs of which must 



Ann. ^ Mag. N. Hist. Scr. 2. TW. vii. 32 



