140 REPTILES OF THE WORLD 



until torn m several pieces, the lizard quickly swallow- 

 ing the portion retained, then rushing for the section 

 that has been cast a distance away. Rats are devoured 

 in the same fashion. Some specimens will eat pieces 

 of beef. There is a marked preference, however, for 

 small animals in full feathers or fur. Aside from this 

 diet of flesh, the favorite food is bananas. Berries are 

 also eaten, besides lettuce, the tender tips of celery, clover 

 and various flowers. The Rhinoceros Iguana is found 

 only in Hayti and Porto Rico. 



The Bahaman Iguana, C. bccalopha, looks much like 

 the preceding sjjccies in its burly structure. Its habits 

 are similar as well. In place of the horns the snout is 

 covered with close-set, tubercular shields, these usually 

 in three pairs. The species is generally distributed in 

 the more southern of the Bahaman Islands, in Cuba and 

 Jamaica. It is strictly terrestrial. Adult lizards are 

 vicious fighters, dealing hard blows with the tail besides 

 employing both teeth and claws if restrained. The 

 males look especially hostile as the cornea of the eyes 

 is bright red. 



Cychira carinata, inlaabiting the Turk's Islands, is a 

 smaller, greenish-gray species, immediately told by the 

 small, regular scales on the snout. Like the two pre- 

 ceding species it makes deep burrows in the sand in 

 which it hides during the night. It is persistezitly 

 hunted bj^ the negroes, who esteem it a delicate article 

 of food. 



The Spine-Tailed Iguanas, genus Ctenosaura, dif- 

 fer from other iguanas in having a body that is little 

 compressed and a perfectly round tail, which organ is 

 provided with rings of very sharp, spiny shields, making 

 it a formidable organ. There is a crest of lanceolate 

 spines on the back. Tlie three snecies range from the 



