78 
THE MARINE OREOCEPHALE. 
is without scales, but covered with multitudinous granular tubercles of a very small size. The 
tail is compressed. The color of this species is blackish-brown, variegated with many spots of 
tawny brown. 
Another curious species is appropriately called the Horned Iguana (. Metopoceros 
cornutus ), deriving its name from the horn-like projections upon its head. Upon the fore- 
head there is a large horn-like tubercle, and two pairs of large horny plates between the 
nostrils. There is a crest upon the back, but it is very low between the shoulders, and upon 
the loins it is not continuous. It inhabits St. Domingo. 
The next family, termed Rhynchocephalia, which is represented in the illustration on 
page 77, contains only one species, the Hatter ia punctata. This reptile inhabits Hew 
Zealand where the natives regard it with fear, though without any reason, as the animal is 
quite inoffensive. They nevertheless like the flesh of the “ Guana,” “Tuatera,” or “Harara,” 
as they call this great Lizard. A specimen caught in Wellington, Hew Zealand, was brought 
to Europe and has lived there in captivity for many years. It has fed on meal-worms and 
other scaled insects. 
The general color of the Hattebia is a dark olive-green, the sides and limbs are variegated 
with many yellow sprinkles. There is a conspicuous crest of sharp scales which runs along 
the head and the back, while the tail shows rather flattened projections. The scales of the 
head and back are of a yellow color, those of the tail being brown. 
It has already been mentioned that the Iguana possesses the power of swimming to a large 
extent, and that it is capable of sustaining a long submersion without suffering any injury. 
MARINE OREOCEPHALE. - Oreocephalus cristatus. 
There is a curious species of Iguana, the Marine Oreooephale, which exists upon the 
seashore, and passes a considerable portion of its time in the water. This creature was first 
made known to science by Mr. Darwin, who found it on the coasts of the Galapagos islands, 
and describes its habits in the following words ; — ■ 
