The Zoologist— October, 1807. 053 



its whereabouts by a sound resembling a short growl, followed by a 

 short sharp bark, not unlike that of a puppy at play. When I first 

 heard it in a tree, I looked up for a mdtikey, but on many subsequent 

 occasions, it appeared very much like the barking of a small dog. 

 They are very difficult to detect, however, cunningly concealing them- 

 selves, and although I have watched for one barking a few yards above 

 my head in a tree, I have looked in vain for a considerable time. They 

 are very fond of coming into houses, and are considered by the 

 Malays as reptiles of good omen. They feed upon insects and moths, 

 being particularly partial to Sphingidae. 



The iguana is a larger species, which reaches a length of seven feet. 

 Although in other respects harmless it does considerable mischief 

 among domestic fowls, frequenting the neighbourhood of houses for 

 the purpose of robbing the hen-roosts. For that reason, they are 

 destroyed, and moreover by some they are considered excellent eating. 

 While drying some marine animals in the sun one morning, an iguana 

 appeared upon the scene, walking on tiptoe across the grass, and 

 lifting its head as if scenting something. On my driving it away it 

 returned again three times to the spot, although the bait was not what 

 I should have imagined to be very inviting. I was unwilling to shoot 

 it, but two or three days after I fear it met with such a fate in neigh- 

 bouring grounds, where it was found near the hen-roost. It was about 

 four feet long, I believe these animals, however, do sometimes subsist 

 upon marine animals, which they pick up on the beach. I have more 

 than once observed them skulking among the roots of the trees close 

 to the margin of the shore ; and on one occasion, I passed and 

 repassed the spot several times on purpose to observe it. Each time 

 1 passed it retreated into the jungle, but was always at its post when I 

 came back. On one occasion I disturbed a large iguana in such a 

 situation that in order to escape, it had to run some distance across an 

 open space in my full view ; and it did run tolerably quickly, but in a 

 most ludicrous manner : the short and peculiarly situated fore legs had 

 an awkward waddling motion, while the hind legs, seeming less 

 encumbered, ran more quickly, and threatened to overtake the head, 

 while the long tail followed behind, as if it scarcely belonged to it, 

 swaying from one side to the other according to the direction the 

 animal took. With all this, however, I should scarcely have caught it 

 in a flat race. 



Chameleons of more than one species exist in Labuan. The 



SECOND SERIES — VOL. II. 3 I 



