15$ - OVIPAROUS QjJADRUPEOS. 



fecond two, the third three, the fourth four] thie fifth tw©: the fame in the* 

 hind foot; but the fifth toe has three. 



The flefh., efpecially of the females, is the greateft delicacy of Africa^ 

 America, or India; the fportfmen of thefe fultry climates go out to hunt 

 the iguana, as v;e do the pheafant or hare, in the beginning of the fea- 

 fon, when the great floods of the tropical climates are pad, and vegeta- 

 tion ftarts into univerfai verdure. This animal is the moft harmlefs 

 creature of all the foreft, except when defending its female. About two 

 months after the clofe of winter, the female quits the woods to lay her 

 eggs on the fands of the fea-lliore, always an odd one, from thirteen to 

 . twenty-five ; the fhell fupple, like thofe of the turtle ; the contents 

 whitifh, no glair; they are thought of exquifite relifh. It lives on vege- 

 tables and infe(9:s among the trees, or fports in the water, without offering 

 to offend : there, having fed upon the flowers of the mahot, and the leaves of 

 the map ou, that grow along the banks. of the ftream, it repofes on the 

 branches that hang over the water. Swims badly j its feet folded clofe to 

 its body; its tail only moving, and driving it forward : But on land is 

 fwift. When in po'lTeflion of a tree, feems confciousof fecurity, and never 

 offers to ftir. . There the fportfman finds it, and fafl:ens his noofe round 

 its neck; if the head be placed fo that the noofe' cannot readily be faften- 

 ed, by hitting the animal a blow on the nofe with a flick, it lifts the head, 

 and offers it in fome meafure to the noofe; or its attention is caught by 

 whittling, and it lifts up its head; as it will, if tickled by the noofe. 

 May be domefticated ; lives in the garden; is aftive during night; fees 

 well in obfcurity, and eafily catches nodlurnal infers. In walking he 

 often darts ouf his tongue; he lives eafy, and becomes familiar. Colours 

 vary according to climate, age, and fex. 



THE BASILISK 



S very far removed from that imaginary creature, whofe fight was mor- 

 ^ tal, and whofe fubftituary reprefentations are made by awkward and 

 extraordinary contorfions'of the Spiny Ray; a fifli which is no monfter, till 

 made fuchby art. This lizard inhabits South Americaj has a very high 



row 



