7S 



THE MARINE OREOCEP HA LE. 



is without scales, but covered with multitudinous granular tubercles of a very small size. The 

 tail is compressed. The color of this species is blackish-brown, variegated with many spots of 

 tawny brown. 



Another curious species is appropriately called the Horned Iguana (Metopbceros 

 cornutus), deriving its name from the horn-like projections upon its head. Upon the fore- 

 head there is a large horn-like tubercle, and two pairs of huge horny plates between the 

 nostrils. There is a crest upon the back, but it is very low between the shoulders, and upon 

 the loins it is not continuous. It inhabits St. Domingo. 



The next family, termed Rhynchocephalia, which is represented in the illustration on 

 page 77, contains only one species, the Hatteria punctata. This reptile inhabits New 

 Zealand where the natives regard it with fear, though without any reason, as the animal is 

 quite inoffensive. They nevertheless like the flesh of the "'Guana," "Tuatera," or "Narara," 

 as they call this great Lizard. A specimen caught in Wellington, Xew Zealand, was brought 

 to Europe and has lived there in captivity for many years. It has fed on meal-worms and 

 other scaled insects. 



The general color of the Hatteria is a dark olive-green, the sides and limbs are variegated 

 with many yellow sprinkles. There is a conspicuous crest of sharp scales which runs along 

 tlie head and the back, while the tail shows rather flattened projections. The scales of the 

 head and back are of a yellow color, those of the tail being brown. 



It has alreadybeen mentioned that the Iguana possesses the powerof swimming to a large 

 extent, and that it is capable of sustaining a long submersion without suffering any injury. 



MARINE OUKcm'KPHALE i loucephnlus cristatus. 



There is a curious species of Iguana, the Marine Oreooephale, which exists upon the 

 seashore, and passes a considerable portion of its time in the water. This creature was flrst 

 made known to science by Mr. Darwin, who found it on the coasts of the Galapagos islands, 

 and describes its habits in the following words : — 



