76 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



to give any defcription of thefe terrible animals, when 

 fo much has been written about them in other books. 



Among the greater lizards we reckon the Acaltetepon^ 

 and the Iguana, The Acaltetepon^ known to the Spa- 

 niards by the very improper name of Scorpions^ are two 

 lizards which refemble each other in colour and in form, 

 but very different in their fize and tails. The fmallell is 

 about fifteen inches, with a long tail, fhort legs, a red, 

 broad, cloven tongue, a grey rough fkin covered with 

 white warts like pearls, a fiuggiili pace, and a fierce af- 

 ped. From the mufcles of the hind-legs to the extremity 

 of the tail, its ficin is crofied with yellow lines in the form 

 of rings. The bite of this animal is painful, but not 

 mortal as fome have imagined. It is peculiar to the warm- 

 er climates. The other lizard is an inhabitant of the 

 fame climate, but twice as large, being, according to the 

 report of fome who have feen it, about two feet and a 

 half long, and more than a foot thick round the back 

 and belly. It has a fliort tail, with a thick head and 

 legs. This lizard is the fcourge of rabbits. 



The Iguana is a harmlefs lizard, fufficiently known in 

 Europe from the accounts of American hiftorians. They 

 abound in the warm countries, and are of two kinds, 

 the one a land animal, and the other amphibious. Some 

 of them have been found as long as three feet. They 

 run with great fpeed, and are very nimble in climbing 

 trees. Their eggs and fiefh are eatable, and praifed by 

 fome authors, but their flefti is hurtful to thofe labouring 

 under the French difeafe. 



Of the fmaller hzards there are a great many fpecies, 

 differing in fize, colour, and other circumfiances ; of 

 which fome are poifonous, and others harmlefs. Among 

 the latter the firft place is due to the cameleon, called by 



the 



