LIZARDS. 415 



and often raised along the crown like a helmet ; the tongue thick, and but slightly 

 notched, and the dorsal crest well developed. The tuberculatcd lizard, I. tuberculata 

 of the West Indies and South America, is the most familiar type both in illustrations 

 and as museum and menagerie specimens. To those unfamiliar with the animal, it 

 presents an uncouth and most repulsive appearance. Its compressed body, high 

 dorsal ridge, and enormous dewlap give to it more the appearance of some taxider- 

 mist's fancy than an animal naturally designed and modified. Though in confinement 

 slow and inactive, it soon learns to know its keeper, to whom it shows a decided 

 preference. In their native haunts, during the warmer portions of the day, they 

 climb some low tree and stretch themselves in the sun, their tail hanging down like 

 that of a snake. When thus basking they are not easily aroused, and, perhaps trusting 

 too much to their j)rotective color, can be closely approached without evincing any 

 alarm. The natives take advantage of this indifference, and while the animal thus lies 

 gently eyeing the intruder, a noose attached to a long stick is slipped over its head, and 

 the unsuspecting animal immediately finds itself jerked from its elevated position to 

 fall a victim to the omnivorous appetite of man. Being an exclusive vegetarian, feed- 

 ing on flowers, fruits, and fungi, and especially on the leaves of the mangrove, its flesh 

 is palatable, and is white, tender, and nutritious. The pious Pere Labat gave, two 

 centuries ago, a very interesting account of the manner in which he saw them cap- 

 tured. " We were attended by a negro who carried a long rod, at one end of which 

 was a j)iece of whip-cord with a running knot. After beating about the fcushes for 

 some time the negro discovered our game basking in the sun on the dry limb of a 

 tree. Hereupon he began whistling with all his might, to which the guana was won- 

 derfully attentive, stretching out his neck and turning his head as if to enjoy it more 

 fully. The negro now approached, still whistling, and advanced this rod gently, 

 began tickling with the end of it the sides and throat of the guana, who seemed 

 mightily pleased with the operation, for ho turned on his back and stretched himself 

 out like a eat before the fire and at length fell asleep, which the negro perceiving, 

 dexterously slipped a noose over his head, and with a jerk brought him to the ground. 

 And good sport it afforded, to see the creature swell like a turkey-cock to find himself 

 entrapped. We caught more in the same way, and kept one alive seven or eight days ; 

 but it greaved me to the heart to find that he thereby lost much delicious fat." Not 

 only are the iguanas captured in this way, but they are often chased to their burrows 

 or treed by dogs trained for the purpose. They are ordinarily captured alive, and 

 carried to market by people who thus earn a living at certain seasons of the year. 

 The tuberculatcd lizard does not often exceed the length of five feet. 



The naked-necked iguana, I. delicatissima, also inhabits the more tropical portions 

 of America, and is, too, an important animal for food. In general form and habits 

 it resembles its more abundant relative, though the neck has no large tubercles, and 

 the cuticular appendage of the chin is small and with only few denticulations. The 

 horned-iguana of San Domingo, J. comuta, is characterized by having a conical osseous 

 point between the eyes, and two raised scales on the nostrils. Though, like the 

 previous species, the scales along the jaws ai-e well developed, there are no tubercles 

 on the neck nor broad plate below the ears. The teeth of this and other related 

 iguanas are very peculiar and chai-acteristic. Not only are they placed along the in- 

 side of each jaw, merely attached instead of inserted into alveoli, so that the reserve 

 of incipient teeth have little difficulty in supplying the place of those broken off, but 

 the crowns of the teeth are laterally compressed, and the edges denticulate, bearing 



