514 THE IGUANA. 



tail covered with small imbricated scales, its back garnished 

 with a row of spines, and on its thigh a number of porous 

 tubercles, while its legs and claws are wide-spreading. 



As it crawls along a bough overhead, the bravest man who 

 had never before seen it would undoubtedly get out of its 

 way, expecting it to leap down and seize him. Yet the 

 iguana, ugly as is its countenance, is perfectly harmless ; 

 except that it can give a sharp bite with its compressed tri- 

 angular and serrated teeth. It lives generally on trees. 

 When hard-pressed it takes to the water, and swims with 

 ease, — pressing its legs close to its sides, and sculling itself 

 on with its tail ; while it can remain an hour or more under 

 water without suffering. 



The flesh of the iguana, unfortunately for itself, is con- 

 sidered excellent ; and hunters go out to catch it with a noose 

 at the end of a long stick, which they cast round its neck, 

 and then by a sudden jerk pull it to the ground. As the 

 creature seems to fancy that it cannot be reached on the 

 bough, it seldom moves on the approach of the hunter, and 

 is thus easily caught. It lashes out with its tail, however, 

 and tries to bite, when once it finds itself entrapped ; and 

 being also very tenacious of life, it is not killed without 

 repeated heavy blows, or a pistol-shot in its head. 



The common iguanas are numerous in the neighbourhood 

 of villages, where they climb the trees for the sake of their 

 fruit. Some species lay their eggs — which are about an inch 

 and a half in length, and oblong — in hollow trees. Others are 

 known to do so in the sand, to be hatched by the heat of the 

 sun. They are considered delicacies, and are much sought 

 after in consequence. 



The colour of the iguana changes, like that of the chameleon. 



