Iguanid/e. REPTILES. Guaa'as. 25 
“On tlie inecipices,” he says, speaking of the first of 
The species may be divided into two groups : — 
the two species, “it occurs generally in the crevices of 
those which live on frees or are formed for perching; 
the rocks, and is cluefly ohserved in dull obscure situa- 
and those which are teri’estrial in their habits. 
tions. It advances on the face of a perpendicular 
The Perchers, or tho.se of the first group, have the 
rock with great facility', and also ascends with ease 
body compressed, and covered with rings of squarish, 
glass or wood placed vertically. When discovered 
small, often keeled scales. 
and exposed to the light of day it immediately seeks 
THE COMMON GUANA of America [Iguana tuber- 
concealment, as if inconvenience was a consequence of 
culata ) — Plate 2, fig. 2, and Plate 8, fig. 5 — is one of 
such exposure.” 
the best known species of the grouj), and indeed of the 
family to which it gives its name. This animal is from 
Tribe II.— STROBILOSAURA. 
four to five feet long, and its general colour is green, 
shaded with brown. It has a strong and distinct crest 
The second tribe, the Cone-tailed Lizards 
running along the whole length of the back and tail. 
{Slvohilosmira),* are diurnal lizards, their eyes having 
and a large dewlap or pouch under the throat, the edge 
movable eyelids and round pupils. The scales of the 
of which is attached to a caitilaginous appendage of 
belly are small, rhombic, and, like those of the back. 
the bone of the tongue. The tail is very long, slender. 
are imbricate or jdaced one above another, like the tiles 
compressed, and covered with small, imbricated, keeled 
of a house ; while the tail is generally covered with 
scales. It has a very formidable look at first sight, and 
whirls of scales so disposed as to resemble somewhat 
when irritated, it puts on a very menacing apjiearance. 
the scales of a fif-cone. The tongue is thick, short. 
swelling out its throat pouch, erecting the crest on its 
and convmx, with the extremity sliglitly nicked. The 
back, aijd lashing its tail about with great violence. 
feet arc formed for walking and are furnished with 
It is, neverthele.ss, a harmless creature, unless laid hold 
unequal, compressed toes. 
of, when it bites with considerable force. 
This tribe contains the two large -families of the 
The Guana is very common in all the warm parts of 
Guanas {IguanhJai) and the Agamas {Agamidce), which 
America, and was at one time abundant in Jamaica 
are distinguished from each other chiefly by the struc- 
and other West Indian islands, though now nearly 
ture of the teeth. 
extirpated. It is generally seen in woods, near rivers. 
and in the neighbourhood of springs of water. It 
FAXiiLY— IGUANIDiE. 
jiasses most of the time in trees, and lives on leaves. 
flowers, fruits, grain, &c. It is very tenacious of life. 
The Family of Guanas {Iguanuhe) is a numerous 
and can live a long time without food. Browne, in his 
one, ujjwards of one hundred and twenty species having 
“ Natural History of Jamaica,” informs us that he kept 
been described or enumerated by Dr. Gray in his 
a grown Guana about the house for more than two 
Catalogue of Lizards in the British Museum. Thej' 
months. “ It was very fierce and ill-natured at the 
are all confined to the New World. Their teeth are 
beginning, but after some days it grew more tame. 
round at the root, dilated, compressed at the tip, and 
and would at length pass the greatest part of the day 
toothed 01 } the edge. They are qdaced in a simple 
upon the bed or couch, but always went out at night.” 
series in a furrow on the inner side of the jaws, just 
The females are smaller than the males, but their 
below the edge, and covered on the inner side by the 
colours are much more brilliant. At a particular 
gums. They are replaced bj' the young teeth, which 
season of the year they go to the sea-shore to lay their 
grow at the base of the old ones, and gradually cause 
eggs, which they deposit in the sand, leaving them to 
the absorption of their roots. The palate is furnished 
be hatched by the genial warmth of the sun. A single 
with one or two rows of teeth on each side. The 
female will lay about six dozen. These eggs are about • 
greater proportion of the species have a horny crest or 
the size of those of a pigeon, but a little longer, and of 
ridge, extending along the middle line of the back and 
equal thickness at both ends. The shell is white, even. 
tail ; and many have a compressed dewlap or pouch 
and soft. They are entirely filled by the j'olk, which 
under the throat, while others have only a foil of the 
does not become hard by boiling. Their flavour is 
skin there. The toes are free, distinct, and all furnished 
very agreeable, and they are much sought after in 
with nails or claws. In general they are nimble in 
Surinam and Guiana as articles of food. The flesh of 
their movements, and are very quarrelsome, fighting 
the Guana is considered delicious eating, being white 
with great ardour when they meet. The compressed 
and delicate. It is in great estimation throughout all 
and A'ery long tail of many amongst them, is most 
the warm parts of America, and at Paramaribo it is 
useful as an organ of pi’ogression when swimming 
sold, we are told, at a high price, and is much piizcd 
across the inundated savannas ; for though they are 
by epicures. The Guana is hunted by dogs, and is 
not amphibious animals, they do not fear or dWike the 
also occasionally taken by a noose attached to the 
water. As many of them live on trees, their long 
end of a stick. When it has taken refuge in a tree. 
hooked claws are useful in climbing, and assist them in 
it appears to depend upon the security of its situation. 
pursuing the smaller animals upon which they partly 
and never oilers to stir. Mr. Gosse tells us that this 
feed, enabling them the better, also, to reach the fruits 
operation is much facilitated by particular sounds. He 
and grains, and leaves, which in many sj)ecies form 
made a noose of small twine, fastened it to the end of 
their usual sustenance. 
a switch, and went gently towards one of them, whist- 
* From the two Greek words, strolilos a fir-cone, 
ling a lively tune. This so fascinated it, that it allowed 
and saura [irccv^x], a lizard. 
the noose to be passed over its head, and itself to be 
Von. II. 6o 
