MONITORS. 275 



Crocodile, than of the lively action of the smaller Saurians. 

 When attacked, they lash violently with their tail, 

 swaying it side- ways with great force, like the Cayman. 

 These modern types of the Mososaurus and Iguanodon 

 have a graceful habit of extending the neck and raising 

 the head to look about them, and as you follow them 

 leisurely over the rocks or through the jungle, they 

 frequently stop, turn their heads round, and take a 

 deliberate survey of the intruder. They are by no means 

 vicious, though they bite with severity when provoked, 

 acting, however, always on the defensive. On examining 

 their stomachs, Crabs, Locusts, Beetles, and the remains 

 of the Periopkthalmus, or Jumping-Fish, the scales of 

 Snakes, and bones of Frogs and other small animals were 

 discovered. Like that of the Iguana of the New World, 

 the flesh of these Saurians is delicate eating; I can 

 compare it to nothing better than that of a very young 

 sucking-pig. 



At the island of Mayo we landed amid the surf, upon 

 a group of high, bare rocks covered with Chitons, Litto- 

 rince and Nerites, with large painted Grapsi running 

 about in all directions. As I climbed the rugged accli- 

 vity, a huge Monitor Lizard, upwards of five feet in 

 length, disturbed in his noonday siesta, made off to a 

 swampy ravine on the other side, climbing the perpendi- 

 cular ascent with awkward activity, and stopping now 

 and then to look round and examine his pursuer. The 

 romantic chine in which he finally disappeared was 

 abundantly supplied with trickling rivulets, that came 

 tumbling down among enormous boulders, from their 

 sources in green clumps of tall Pandanm trees, springing 



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