THE APLONOTE. 



11 



rather variable even in tiie same individual, being affected by change of weather, or locality, 

 or temper. On the sides a few brown bands are generally seen, and the tail is marked with 

 brown and green of various tones, the two colors being arranged in alternate rings. The 

 average length of the Iguana is about four feet, but it often attains a much greater size, 



reaching a length of six feet or a little more. 



The Naked-necked Iguana was long confounded with the preceding species, bearing 

 a great resemblance to that reptile in color, form, and habit, and being found in the same 

 localities. It can, however, be readily distinguished from the common Iguana by the absence 

 of tubercles upon the sides of the neck. Along each side of the lower jaw runs a series of 



HATTERIA. — B^tUei-ia punclata. ( '.i Natural size. See nexl page.; 



large strong scales. The general color of this species is bluish-green, darker on the back than 

 on the abdomen. Its flesh is esteeemed equally with that of the preceding species. 



Besides these Iguanas, there are one or two which deserve a short notice. One of these 

 animals is the Marbled Iguana or Camaleao {Pblyohrus marmordtus), also a native of 

 Brazil and Central America. This species has the throat compressed into a small dewlap, 

 and the scales of the back and sides equal. There is no crest upon the back and tail. Its 

 color is brown, mottled with bold marblings and diverging lines of a darker hue, and some- 

 times having a slight purple gloss. 



The Aplonote {Aloponotus ricardi) is another species of Iguana, having its head covered 

 with small eqiaal many-sided plates, and its throat dilated into a small pouch without the 

 toothed projections in front. A shallow crest runs along the back and tail, and the back 



