SAURIA. 33 



NiANS proper, is distinguished from the first by having teeth 

 in the palate. 



Iguana, Cuv. 



In Iguana, properly so called, the body and tail are covered 

 with small imbricated scalesj along the entire length of the back, is 

 a range of spines, or rather of recurved, compressed, and pointed 

 scalesj beneath the throat a pendent, compressed devplap, the edge 

 of which is supported by a cartilaginous process of the hyoid bone; 

 a series of porous tubercles on their thighs as in the true Lizards; 

 the head covered with plates. Each jaw is surrounded with a row 

 of compressed, triangular teeth, whose cutting edge is denticulate; 

 two small rows of the same on the posterior edge of the palate. 



Jg. tuberculata, Laur.; Lac. Iguana, L.; Seb. I, xcv, I, xcvii, 3, 

 xcviii, 1. (The Common American Iguana. )(1) Yellowish green 

 above, marbled with pure green; the tail annulated with brown; 

 preserved in alcohol it appears blue, changing to green and vio- 

 let, and dotted with black; paler beneath; a crest of large spini- 

 form dorsal scales; a large round plate under the tympanum at 

 the angle of the jaAvs; sides of the neck furnished with pyramidi- 

 cal scales scattered among the others; anterior edge of the dewlap 

 denticulate like the back; from four to five feet in length: com- 

 mon in South America where its flesh is esteemed delicious, al- 

 though unwholesome, particularly for syphilitic patients. It 

 lives mostly on trees, occasionally visits the water and feeds on 

 fruit, grain, and leaves; the female lays her eggs in the sand, 

 they are the size of those of a Pigeon, agreeable to the taste and 

 almost without white. 



IJIguane ardoise, Daud.; Seb. I, xcv, 2, xcvi, 4. (The Slate- 

 coloured Iguana.) A uniform violet blue, paler beneath; the 

 dorsal spines smaller; otherv/ise, similar to the preceding, both 

 of them having an oblique whitish line on the shoulder. The 

 latter is from the same country as the former, and is probably 

 a mere variety of age or sex. (2) 



Ig. nudicoUis, Cuv.; Mus. Besler. tab. XIII, f. 3; Jg. delicatis- 

 sima, Laur., resembles the common one, particularly in its dor- 

 sal crest, but has no infra-tympanal plate, nor the scattered tu- 



(1) The Mexicans caXWt AquaquetzpalUa, Hemand.; the Brazilians, Senembi, 

 Marcgr. 



(2) I have every reason to think that this same conclusion should be extended 

 to the Iguanas of Spix, pi. v, vi, vii, viii, and ix: they seem to me to be nothing 

 more than various ages of the common species. 



Vol.. II.— E 



