99 



and much esteemed as an article of food, though to 

 persons unaccustomed to see it, presents a formida- 

 ble appearance. 



The Iguana (Lacerta Iguana). 

 Though the Lizard tribe affords numerous exam- 

 ples of strange and peculiar forms, yet few specie* 

 are perhaps more eminent in this respect than the 

 Iguana, which grows to a very considerable size, and 

 is often seen the length of from three to five feet. It 

 is a native of many parts of America and the 

 West India Islands, inhabiting rocky and woody- 

 places, and feeds on insects and vegetables ; is 

 reckoned excellent food, being exceedingly nourish- 

 ing and dehcate ; but observed to disagree with some 

 constitutions. The common manner of catching it.is 

 by casting a noose over the head, and thus drawing it 

 from its situation ; for it seldom makes an effort to 

 escape, but stands lookmg intently at its discoverer, 

 inflating the throat at the same time in an extraordi- 

 nary manner. Iguanas are sometimes salted and bar- 

 relled up for use in Jamaica and other West India 

 islands, in considerable quantities ; may easily be 

 tamed while young, and in that state is both an inno- 

 cent and beautiful creature. The larger one in this 

 Case lived some time in the stove of the Liverpool 

 Botanic Garden, but never was observed to take 

 food ; but was easily irritated, at which time ii pufted 

 up the pouch under the throat in an extraordinary 

 manner ; and on the near approach of dogs, to which 

 it seemed to have an aversion, suddenly struck 

 them forcibly with the tail, but was never known to 

 bite. 



Several Chameleons (Lacerta Chamseleon). 

 Few animals have been more celtbialed by na- 

 tural historians than the Chamaeleon, which has been 

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