88 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



enemy to the poultry yard, stealing the eggs and carrying 

 off the young chickens. I have never personally seen a 

 case of a full-grown fowl being taken, but I have no doubt 

 that a large iguana could accomplish this feat without 

 much difficulty. Its raids take place equally by day 

 and night, and extend to a distance of several hundred 

 yards from the water. 



In 1906 I lost the greater part of a clutch of twelve 

 small chickens, which were carried off one by one in the 

 course of a couple of days. On a hot afternoon I was 

 sitting in my bungalow, when a great cackling arose from 

 the veranda where a hen was tending some chicks. 

 Rushing out, I saw an iguana about three feet long in 

 the act of making off with one of them in its mouth, and 

 ignoring the hen which was fluttering about in great 

 excitement and pecking at the intruder. My fox terrier, 

 which accompanied me, disposed of the latter with a 

 few vigorous shakes, meeting with no resistance 

 whatever. 



These reptiles lay eggs, which are buried in the ground 

 or sand, but at a considerably greater depth than is 

 usual with those of a crocodile. I have seen quite little 

 ones about the end of October, in the eastern Transvaal. 

 To its credit must be placed the fact that this lizard eats 

 the eggs of crocodiles and of snakes as readily as it does 

 those of birds. 



The tree iguana is very much smaller than the last 

 type. Individuals encountered in the Sabi Bush rarely 

 reach three feet in length. The body colours are fainter 

 than those of the former species, and the tail is short and 

 thick in comparison with that of the latter. The teeth, 

 though no doubt adequate for procuring the natural 

 food of the animal, are of practically no account for 

 purposes of defence. This lizard is found in forest and 



