500 



THE COMMON IGUANA. 



The first family of these Lizards consists of those creatures which 

 are grouped together under the general title of Iguana. Our illustra- 

 tion depicts the Common Iguana. 



This conspicuous — and, in spite of its rather repulsive shape, really 

 handsome — Lizard is a native of Brazil, Cayenne, the Bahamas, and 

 ULUghboring localities, and was at one time very common in Jamaica, 

 from which, however, it seems to be in process of gradual extirpation. 



In common with those members of the family which have their body 

 rather compressed and covered with squared scales, the Iguana is a 

 percher on trees, living almost wholly among the branches, to which 

 it clings with its powerful feet, and on which it finds the greater part 

 of its food. It is almost always to be found on the trees that are in 



=^vc\y*^-> ^.^-«. 



'^ ■>\(yl '"'(>^* ,~>\\" 



The Iglana {Iguana tuhei culala) . 



^^^^c. 



the vicinity of water, and especially favors those that grow upon the 

 l>aiiks of a river where the branches overhang the stream. 



Though not one of the aquatic Lizards, the Iguana is quite at home 

 ni the water, and if alarmed will often plunge into the stream and 

 Hther dive or swim rapidly away. While swimming it lays its fore 

 Icgsagamst the sides, so as to aiford the smallest possible' resistance 

 to the water, stretches out the hinder legs, and by a rapid serpentine 

 movement of its long and flexible tail, passes swiftly through the 

 waves. It has considerable power of enduring immersion, as indeed 

 IS the c^ise with nearly all reptiles, and has been known to remain under 

 water for an entire hour, and at the end of that time to emerge in 

 pertect vigor. * 



