REPUB Or ALL LANDS 615 
when disturbed, thence dis- 
closing the fact that the 
mouth parts are as black as 
if steeped in ink. 
Other big lizards are the 
iguanas, belonging to a 
New World family that 
contains both large and 
small members. Differing 
from the monitors, the igu- 
anas are omnivorous, and 
so decorated with spines 
and protuberances that 
some of them appeal to the 
novice like the subjects of 
a disordered dream. The 
South American iguana at- 
tains a length of six feet 
and is a wild-looking crea- 
ture, owing to a high crest 
of lance-like dorsal spines. 
It is largely herbivorous, 
but does not hesitate to rob 
the nests of small birds or 
dig into a rotting log for 
insect prey. 
This lizard is edible and 
subjected to a cruel process 
in the South American 
markets, where its flesh is 
described as much like that 
of a young fowl. The tip 
of the longest toe on each 
hind foot is caught with a 
pair of pliers and the ten- 
don stretched from the toe 
inset. By means of the 
stretched tendons the hind 
feet are tied together, ren- 
dering the lizard helpless. 
As an illustration of the 
tenacity with which rep- 
tiles cling to life, it may be 
mentioned that iguanas are 
shipped to animal dealers 
in the United States bound 
in the manner described, 
and, though without food 
or water for weeks, they 
run about soon after being 
liberated, and will live for 
years—this despite the fact 
that they come from the 
tronics infested with ticks 
and other parasites. 
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