470 



GALAPAGOS ARCHIPELAGO. 



Oct. 1835. 



They inhabit burrows; which they sometimes excavate 

 between fragments of lava^ but more generally on level 

 patches of the soft volcanic sandstone. The holes do not 

 appear to be very deep^ and they enter the ground at a small 

 angle ; so that when walking over these lizard warrens, the 

 soil is constantly giving way^ much to the annoyance of the 

 tired walker. This animal when excavating its burrow^ alter- 

 nately works the opposite sides of its body. One front leg 

 for a short time scratches up the soil_, and throws it towards 

 the hind foot^ which is well placed so as to heave it beyond 

 the mouth of the hole. This side of the body being tired, 

 the other takes up the task, and so on alternately. I watched 

 one for a long time, till half its body was buried ; I then 

 walked up and pulled it by the tail ; at this it was greatly 

 astonished, and soon shuffled up to see what was the matter; 

 and tlien stared me in the face, as much as to say, " What 

 made you pull my tail 



They feed by day, and do not wander far from their 

 burrows ; and if frightened they rush to them with a most 

 awkward gait. Except when running down hill, they can- 

 not move very fast; which appears chiefly owing to the 

 lateral position of their legs. 



They are not at all timorous : when attentively watching 

 any one, they curl their tails, and raising themselves on their 

 front legs, nod their heads vertically, with a quick movement, 

 and try to look very fierce : but in reality they are not at all 

 so ; if one just stamps the ground, down go their tails, and 

 off they shuffle as quickly as they can . I have frequently ob- 

 served small muscivorous lizards, when watching any thing, 

 nod their heads in precisely the same manner ; but I do not 

 at all know for what purpose. If this Amblyrhyncus is held, 

 and plagued with a stick, it will bite it very severely ; but I 

 caught many by the tail, and they never tried to bite me. If 

 two are placed on the ground and held together, they will 

 fight and bite each other till blood is drawn. 



The individuals (and they are the greater number) which 

 inhabit the lower country, can scarcely taste a drop of water 



