66 
The Natural Hiftory of the Book II. 
The Head is fomewhat flattith, and hollow between the Eyes: ‘Thefe 
in all Kinds-of Lizards are very prominent. 
The Back is of a changeable {hining Green, imboffed with {mall 
pointed Rifings, like Shagreen: It changes towards the Belly into a pale 
Silver White. 
- - Ass Lizards are very harmlefs Creatures, feveral Authors are of Opinion, 
that they are, in particular, great Lovers of Mankind . And, to prove this, 
they affure us, that when Men in hot Countries fleep under the Shade of 
Trees, the Lizards will creep upon feveral Parts of their Bodies : Nay, fo 
fanciful are fome of thefe Writers, that they gravely affirm, that Lizards 
will leap upon a fleeping Perfon to awake him, if he fees a Snake ap- 
proaching him; tho’, upon a narrow Scrutiny, we fhall find, that this feem- 
ing Familiarity and Philanthropy are the Effect of no other Principle, than 
that of Self-prefervation ; for, as thefe Lizards chiefly live upon Flies, 
their Familiarity in creeping, or Daringnefs in leaping, upon a. fleeping 
Perfon, is only in order to catch Flies ; which they do by creeping near, 
and then leaping upon, their Prey. 
It is likewife fuppofed, that they are great Lovers of Mufic. 
This Opinion is fupported by feveral probable Circumftances ; for they 
will draw near to the Sound of any mufical Inftrument. 
I have known one Inftance myfelf of a Lizard drawing nearer and 
nearer by Degrees, and at laft leaping upon the Spinet which a: Lady was 
playing upon. 3 
However, I would not, from this one, perhaps cafual, Inftance, ke fup- 
pofed to draw any certain regular Inference in favour of a general Cer- 
tainty of the above-mentioned Opinion. 
MonkKeEYs. 
“ES E SE are not very numerous in this Ifland : They chiefly refide 
- in inacceflible Gullies; efpecially where there are many Fruit- 
trees: sack 
The greateft Mifchief they do to the neighbouring Planters is digging 
out of the Earth their Yams and Potatoes, and fometimes breaking and 
carrying off a great many ripe Sugar-canes. 
As a Law of this Ifland provides a Premium for deftroying thefe, as 
well as Racoons, they yearly rather decreafe than multiply. 
RavtTs. 
— ESE are fo very numerous, and fo. very deftru€tive to Sugar- 
canes, that the yearly Lofs to the Inhabitants of the Parifhes of Sz. 
Ee caliper Sz. Andrew's alone, is computed ta be no lefs than Two or 
hree thoufand: Pounds. LR : 
That 
