502 M. F. Sumichrast on the Habits of some Mexican Reptiles. 



with their lower surface. The tail, of the ground-colour, is 

 traversed by ten or twelve broad and indistinctly limited blackish- 

 brown rings. The raised and compressed scales which form the 

 dorsal crest are alternately grey and black, in accordance with 

 the arrangement of the lateral bands which terminate at them. 



The dimensions of the body are very different according to 

 the age of the individuals. That from which the preceding de- 

 scription was taken was an adult, and gave the following mea- 

 surements : — Total length 30 inches (m. 0*75) ; from the anus 

 to the chin 18-8 inches (0-27) ; from the rostral to the first 

 scales of the dorsal crest 2*8 inches (0*07). I should add that 

 these dimensions are those of a Cyclura of middle size, and that 

 they very often exceed the numbers above given. 



The maxillary teeth of the Cyclura are three-lobed at their 

 apex, and the lateral margins are destitute of that fine denticu- 

 lation which is observed in those of the true Iguanas. By 

 means of this peculiarity they are rendered capable of triturating 

 harder substances ; and, in fact, berries with hard kernels, and 

 even insects, are found in the stomach of the Cyclura. I have 

 also been assured that, in the vicinity of inhabited places, these 

 reptiles do not disdain to feed upon human excrements. 



The IguaruB are more inhabitants of the neighbourhood of 

 water than the Cyclura, as indeed is proved by the simple com- 

 parison of the organs of these two genera of Saurians. The tail 

 of the Cyclura, which is rounded and covered with spines, would 

 embarrass rather than assist them in the act of swimming, for 

 which, on the contrary, that of the Iguana, which is long, 

 slender, 'and flattened laterally, is admirably adapted. From 

 this difference it results that, whilst the Iguana invariably dwell 

 near water, the Cyclura can depart far from it, without the con- 

 ditions of their existence being thereby altered. 



In traversing the low forests which extend as far as the eye 

 can see on the vast plains of Western Mexico, glades are met 

 with from time to time in which the bare and cracked soil indi- 

 cates that these bottoms have been covered with water in the 

 rainy season. A few stunted trees, the feet of which still bear 

 the traces of the mud which has bathed them, form the sole 

 vegetation of these wild spots. It is here that, during the season 

 of Lent, the Indians seek the Cyclura, the flesh of which is 

 regarded by them as a royal dish. Arrived at the open glade, 

 they carefully examine all the holes and clefts of the trunks ; 

 and it is rarely that their piercing sight fails speedily to dis- 

 cover some of the poor animals, the objects of their avidity, 

 buried in these cavities. The great difficulty, however, consists 

 in getting the animal to issue from its prison, in which it is 

 literally incrusted. When the trunk is not too thick, a few 



