356 THE LIZARD KIND. 



taken in the hands it imparts a chilling sensation, and 

 appears to he incapable of supporting heat, as it always 

 makes choice of a cool retreat. Like the frog, it seems 

 to be a heavy torpid animal, and in that instance dif- 

 fers from the rest of the lizard kind, as the generality 

 of them are continually in motion, if we except the 

 winter mouths, which are chiefly devoted to sleep : 

 during that period the Avatcr-lizard changes its skin 

 every fortnight 5 but in the summer twice or thrice in 

 that space. 



OF THE CAMELION, THE IQUANA, AND LIZARDS 

 OF DIFFERENT KINDS. 



Tn the former divisions of this tribe of animals Ave 

 described those who, though innocent of those poison- 

 ous qualities which have been attributed to them, were 

 neither beautiful in colour or shape ; but those whose 

 history is about to be recorded, are either interesting 

 to the eye, or pleasing to the taste. 



Directly descending from the crocodile, we find the 

 cordyle, the tockay, and the tejuguaco, all gradually 

 diminishing in size ; and next to these comes the Afri- 

 can iguana, with a body about as thick as a man's 

 thigh, and measuring nearly five feet : the skin is co- 

 vered with small scales like those of the serpent ; and 

 a row of prickles stands erect upon the back : the eyes 

 appear but half opened, except when the creature hap- 

 pens to be in a rage ; and both jaws are full of very 

 sharp teeth, with which they bite extremely keen, 

 •though they do not inflict a venomous wound. 



This animal, though apparently formed for combat, 

 is completely harmless in all its pursuits ; but its flesh 

 is allowed to be the greatest delicacy which either 

 Africa or America are able to produce. The iguana^ 



