120 SAUEIANS. 



a leaf, cuts through it completely. The tongue is curiously used 

 by the animal to draw food into the mouth, and to forward it 

 down the gullet, or to repel it at will, and the only use of the 

 palatal teeth appears to be to secure the food while the tongue 

 moves forward to afford fresh assistance in its journey down the 

 throat. The tongue is always covered by a glutinous secretion, 

 which is perceptibly appended to the jaws when the mouth is 

 open. Between the lower jaw and the chest is a pouch, which the 

 animal draws in or extends simultaneously with the compression 

 or swelling out of the body when enraged or excited. The 

 portion of the gular pouch attached to the jaw is inflatable, and 

 food is sometimes retained in it for a considerable period, but the 

 lower part is merely extensible. 



" Whilst always retaining the same colours, this Iguana has the 

 power of considerably changing its hues ; but these changes are 

 gradually performed. The colours become more dull as the 

 period of the change of cuticle approaches which is not, however, 

 very frequent. Each scale has its own tint, and the colours 

 being thus irregularly blended, an appearance is given, particu- 

 larly to the younger reptiles, very much like that of worsted- 

 work. 



" These Iguanas live principally on trees, and near the wind- 

 ward coast of the island" (of St. Lucia). " They are not much 

 seen, excepting in the months of February, March, and April, when 

 they quit their hiding-places, and repair to the sea-shore or other 

 sandy places to lay their eggs in the sand. The older females lay 

 a great number of eggs. I have known an instance of one in 

 confinement laying five in one day, and thirty- two within the 

 space of ten minutes five days afterwards, making thirty-seven in 

 all. Younger females are much less prolific, according to their 

 size. The eggs are very liable to destruction by Ants, which fact 

 probably accounts for their being usually deposited in sea-sand. 

 They are soft, and without any white, and their shell resembles 

 the most beautiful kid leather used for French gloves, of a very 

 light straw-colour. They are about the size of those of a domestic 

 Pigeon, but rather longer ; but they vary in dimensions according 

 to the age and size of the Iguana. 



" This Iguana is not averse to water, when not too cold, taking 



