Iguasid.e.- 



-KEPTILES.- 



-GUASAS. 



25 



" On the precipices," he says, speaking of the first of 

 the two species, " it occurs generally in the crevices of 

 the rocks, and is chiefly observed in dull obscure situa- 

 tions. It advances on the face of a perpendicular 

 rock with great facility, and also ascends with ease 

 glass or wood placed vertically. AVlien discovered 

 and exposed to the light of day it immediately seeks 

 concealment, as if inconvenience was a consequence of 

 such exposure." 



Tribe II.— STROBILOSAURA. 



The second tribe, the Cone-tailed Lizaiids 

 {Strobilosaura),* are diurnal lizards, their eyes having 

 movable eyelids and round pupils. The scales of the 

 belly are small, rhombic, and, like those of the back, 

 are imbricate or placed one above another, like the tiles 

 of a house ; while the tail is generally covered with 

 whirls of scales so disposed as to resemble somewhat 

 the scales of a fir-cone. The tongue is thick, short, 

 and convex, with the extremity slightly nicked. The 

 feet are formed for walking and are furnished with 

 unequal, compressed toes. 



This tribe contains the two large families of the 

 Guanas [Ljuanida;) and the Agamas (Aijamida), which 

 are distinguished from each other chiefly by the struc- 

 ture of the teeth. 



Family— IGUANID^. 



The Family of Guanas (Igunnida:) is a numerous 

 line, upwards of one hundred and twenty species having 

 been described or enumerated by Dr. Gray in his 

 Catalogue of Lizards in the British Museum. They 

 are all confined to the New World. Their teeth are 

 round at the roof, dilated, compressed at the tip, and 

 toothed on tlie edge. They are placed in a simple 

 series in a furrow on the inner side of the jaws, just 

 below the edge, and covered on the inner side by the 

 gums. They are replaced by the young teeth, which 

 grow at the base of the old ones, and gradually cause 

 the absorption of their roots. The palate is furnished 

 with one or two rows of teeth on each side. The 

 greater proportion of the species have a horny crest or 

 ridge, e.xtending along the middle line of the back and 

 tail ; and many have a compressed dewlap or pouch 

 imder the throat, while others have only a fold of the 

 skin there. The toes are free, distinct, and all furnished 

 with nails or claws. In general they are nimble in 

 their movements, and are very quarrelsome, fighting 

 with great ardour when they meet. The compressed 

 and very long tail of many amongst them, is most 

 useful as an organ of progression when swimmuig 

 across the inundated savannas ; for though they are 

 not amphibious animals, they do not fear or dislike the 

 water. As many of them live on trees, their long 

 hooked claws are useful in climbing, and assist them in 

 pursuing the smaller animals upon which they partly 

 feed, enabling them the better, also, to reach the fruits 

 and grains, and leaves, which in many species form 

 their usual sustenance. 



* From the two Greek words, s()-o!/i7os (o-t{»,3j>«(), a fir-eone, 

 and stutra [aatv^tt), a lizard. 



Vol.. II. 



The species may be divided into two groups : — 

 those which live on trees or are formed for pciching; 

 and those which are tenestrial in their habits. 



The Perchers, or those of the first group, have the 

 body compressed, and covered with rings of squarish, 

 small, often keeled scales. 



THE COMMON GTJAlfA of America [Iijmina tuhcr- 

 cuhita) — Plate 2, fig. 2, and Plate 8, fig. 5— is one of 

 the best known species of the group, and indeed of the 

 family to wliich it gives its name. Tliis animal is from 

 four to five feet long, and its general colour is green, 

 shaded with brown. It has a strong and distinct crest 

 nmning along the wdiole length of the back and tail, 

 and a large dewlap or pouch under the throat, the edge 

 of which is attached to a cartilaginous appendage of 

 the bone of the tongue. The tail is very long, slender, 

 compressed, and covered with small, imbricated, keeled 

 scales. It has a very formidable look at first sight, and 

 wlien irritated, it puts on a very menacing appearance, 

 swelling out its throat pouch, erecting the crest on its 

 back, and lashing its tail about with great violenci\ 

 It is, nevertheless, a harmless creature, unless laid hold 

 of, when it bites with considerable force. 



The Guana is veiy common in all the warm parts of 

 America, and was at one time abundant in Jamaica 

 and other West Indian islands, though now nearly 

 extiqiated. It is generally seen in woods, near rivers, 

 and in the neighbourhood of springs of water. It 

 passes most of the time in trees, and lives on leaves, 

 flowers, fruits, grain, &c. It is very tenacious of life, 

 and can live a long time without food. Browne, in his 

 " Natural History of Jamaica," informs us that he kept 

 a grown Guana about the house for raoi'e than two 

 months. "It was very fierce and ill-natured at the 

 beginning, but after some days it grew more tame, 

 and would at length pass the greatest part of the day 

 upon the bed or couch, but always went out at night." 

 The females are smaller than the males, but their 

 colours are much more brilliant. At a particular 

 season of the year they go to the sea-shore to lay their 

 eggs, which they deposit in tlie sand, leaving them to 

 be hatched by the genial warmth of the sun. A single 

 female will lay about six dozen. These eggs are about 

 the size of those of a pigeon, but a little longer, and of 

 equal thickness at both ends. The shell is white, even, 

 and soft. They are entirely filled by the yolk, which 

 does not become hard by boiling. Their flavour is 

 very agreeable, and they are much sought after in 

 Surinam and Guiana as articles of food. The flesh of 

 the Guana is considered delicious eating, being white 

 and delicate. It is in great estimation throughout all 

 the warm parts of America^ and at Paramaribo it is 

 sold, we are told, at a high price, and is much piized 

 by epicures. The Guana is hunted by dogs, and is 

 also occasionally taken bj' a noose attached to the 

 end of a stick. When it has taken rcfiige iu a tree, 

 it appears to depend upon the security of its situation, 

 and never oBers to stir. Mr. Gosse tells us that this 

 operation is much facilitated by particular sounds. He 

 made a noose of small twine, fastened it to the end of 

 a switch, and went gently towards one of them, wliist- 

 liiig a lively tune. This so fascinated it, that it allowed 

 the noose to be passed over its head, and itself to be 



