532 



LACERTAE 



CHAP. 



Iguanas are often brought to the markets, either lashed length- 

 wise to a branch of the tree on which the specimen happened to 

 be surprised, or tied up with the long tendons of their own 

 toes. 



FIG. 132. Iguana tuberculata. x \. 



Metopoceros cornutus of Hayti is closely allied to Iguana, 

 but the male has three conical horn-like scales on its head. The 

 general colour of the whole animal, which grows to more than 

 one yard in length, is dull black. 



The following two genera, each containing one species only, 

 are restricted to the Galapagos Islands. Darwin * gives a long 

 and vividly written account of their habits. 



Conolophus subcristatus. Fully grown specimens are a yard 

 long. Their shape is stout, the head and fore part of the body 

 appearing especially heavy. The head is covered, or rather paved, 

 with large cobble-stone-like scales. On the neck is a low crest 

 of recurved spines, while the median line of the back appears 

 simply serrated. All the teeth are trilobate. A gular sac is 

 absent. The coloration is striking. The head is lemon-yellow ; 



1 Toyaye of the Beagle, London, 1845, chap. xvii. 



