Oct. ]835. TERRESTRIAL AMBLYRH YNCUS. 



471 



throughout the year ; but they consume much of the succu- 

 lent cactus^ the branches of which are occasionally broken 

 off by the wind. I have sometimes thrown a piece to two 

 or three when together ; and it was amusing enough to see 

 each trying to sieze and carry it away in its mouthy like so 

 many hungry dogs with a bone. They eat very deliberately, 

 but do not chew their food. The little birds are aware how 

 harmless these creatures are : I have seen one of the thick- 

 billed finches picking at one end of a piece of cactus (which 

 is in request among all the animals of the lower region), 

 whilst a lizard was eating at the other ; and afterwards the 

 little bird with the utmost indifference hopped on the back 

 of the reptile. 



I opened the stomachs of several, and found them full of 

 vegetable fibres, and leaves of different trees, especially of a 

 species of acacia. In the upper region they live chiefly on 

 the acid and astringent berries of the guayavita, under which 

 trees I have seen these lizards and the huge tortoises feeding 

 together. To obtain the acacia-leaves, they crawl up the low 

 stunted trees ; and it is not uncommon to see one or a pair 

 quietly browsing, whilst seated on a branch several feet above 

 the ground. 



The meat of these animals when cooked is white, and by 

 those whose stomachs rise above all prejudices, it is relished 

 as very good food. Humboldt has remarked that in inter- 

 tropical South America, all lizards which inhabit dr^ regions 

 are esteemed delicacies for the table. The inhabitants say, 

 that those inhabiting the damp region drink water, but 

 that the others do not travel up for it from the sterile 

 country like the tortoises. At the time of our visit, the 

 females had within their bodies numerous large elongated 

 eggs. These they lay in their burrows, and the inhabitants 

 seek them for food. 



These two species of Amblyrhyncus agree, as I have 

 already stated, in general structure, and in many of their 

 habits. Neither have that rapid movement, so characteristic 

 of true Lacerta and Iguana. They are both herbivorous. 



