52 
GUANA. 
general length of this animal is from three to five 
or six feet, and its skin is covered with small scales, 
which are highly polished and of a green colour, 
but subject to vary in different individuals. They 
are found in woods, among the branches of the 
trees, where they feed on insects, and sometimes 
on vegetables. When either frightened or irritated 
they appear very formidable, as they can inflate 
their bodies to a large size, and erect the scales on 
the back ; which, together with the hissing noise 
they make at the time, and the fiery appearance of 
their eyes, has occasioned great alarm to those tra- 
vellers who have been unacquainted with their na- 
turally gentle and harmless manners. 
These animals are hunted in several parts of 
America for the sake of their flesh, and dogs are 
frequently trained up for the purpose. They are 
said likewise to be caught in traps, and are some- 
times taken alive by the Indians, who, according to 
Labat, make use of the following artifice to effect 
their purpose : The Indian who intends to catch 
the guana provides himself with a long rod, to the 
end of which he fastens a piece of whipcord formed 
into a running noose. With this simple apparatus 
he repairs to the woods ; and having found the ob- 
ject of his pursuit extended on the branch of a tree, 
and in a quiet state, he advances slowly towards it, 
whistling in a manner which attracts the attention of 
the guana; who, pleased with the sound, turns towards 
the place from whence it comes, and stretches out 
its neck as if unwilling to lose a note. Thus 
