199 



Guanas with serrated dorsal crest, <${c. 



COMMON GUAXA. 



Lacerta Iguana. L. cauda tereti longa, dorso strrato, crista gul<t 



denticulata. 

 Lizard with long round tail, serrated back, and denticulated 



gular crest. 

 Lacerla Iguana. L. cauda tereti longa, sutura dorsali dentata, 



crirfa gulce denticulata. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 366. 

 Lacerta Leguan. Bout. Jai\ 56. 

 Lacertus Senembi & Iguana. Raj. Quadr. 260. 

 Lcguana. Seb. Mus. 1. t. 95, 96, 97, &c. 

 The Great American Guana. 



THOUGH the Lizard tribe affords numerous ex- 

 amples of strange and peculiar form, yet few spe- 

 cies are perhaps more eminent in this respect than 

 the Guana, which grows to a very considerable 

 size, and is often seen of the length of three, four, 

 and even five feet. It is a native of many parts 

 of America and the West-Indian islands, and is 

 also said to occur in some parts of the East Indies. 

 Its general colour is green, but with much varia- 

 tion in the tinge of different individuals : it is 

 generally shaded with brown in some parts of the 

 body, and sometimes this is even the predomi- 

 nating colour. The back of the Guana is very 

 strongly serrated ; and this, together with the 

 gular pouch, which it has the power of extending 

 or inflating occasionally to a great degree, gives a 

 formidable appearance to an animal otherwise 

 harmless. It inhabits rocky and woody places, 

 and feeds on insects and vegetables. It is itself 



