42 
L A C E R T A. 
others, is of an oval figure, and of remarkable polish and 
brilliancy. The eyes and the openings of the ears are very 
large. Above the noftrils, the top of the head, and each 
fide of the neck, are (tudded with tubercles, like the figure 
of cut diamonds. A kind of creft, compofed of large 
projecting fcales, fomewhat like fpear-points in their form, 
extends from the extremity of the lower jaw, under the 
throat, and ornaments the fore-part of the dilatable pouch 
on the neck. The body, tail, and legs, are covered with 
fmall fcales, which form a projecting ridge on the back : 
this ridge or creft on the back, which extends from the 
top of the head to the extremity of tire tail, is compofed 
of very long ftiarp fcales, ftanding perpendicularly up¬ 
wards; thehigheft of thefe are on the middle of the back; 
and they diminish gradually in length towards the end of 
the tail, where they are hardly perceptible. The tail is 
round, inftead of being compreffed at the fides, as in the 
crocodiles and molt of the lizards ; and it tapers very 
much towards the tip. Each foot, both behind and be¬ 
fore, has five divided toes, armed with ftrong hooked 
claws. On each fore foot, the firft or innermolt toe has 
only one joint, or phalanx, the fecond has two, the third 
three, the fourth four, and the fifth or outermoft two. 
On each hind foot, the innermoft toe has one phalanx, 
the fecond two, the third three, the fourth four, and the 
fifth, which is Separated from the reft like a thumb, has 
three. On each Side, under the thighs, there is a row of 
fifteen hollow tubercles, which are all perforated at their 
fummits, as if intended as outlets or excretory dudts to 
fume fecretion ; their real ufe, however, has not been hi¬ 
therto afcertained, but it is an interesting objedt of in¬ 
quiry. In general, the ground-colour of this fpecies is 
green, mixed with yellow, or with different (hades of 
blue ; on the belly, the legs, and the tail, thefe colours 
are often variegated in Streaks. But the colours vary 
from various circumstances of age, fex, and climate; 
which explains the apparent contradidtions that are found 
In the defcriptions of the guana, as given by various voy¬ 
agers and naturalists. 
The difpofition of this fpecies, which feeds entirely on 
vegetables and infedts, is extremely gentle and harmlefs. 
We mud not, however, be S'urprifed at the terrifying ap¬ 
pearance which has been attributed to it by fome travel¬ 
lers ; efpecially when, agitated by fear or wrath, its eyes 
feem on fire, it hiffes like a ferpent, it Swells out its pouch 
under the throat, lafhes about its long tail, eredts the 
fcales on its back, and bolds its head, bridled all over 
with tubercles, in a menacing pofture. The female is 
ufually fmaller than the male; her colours and propor¬ 
tions are more elegant and agreeable; her appearance is 
more gentle and pleafing; and her fcales have frequently 
a very fine and brilliant green colour. All thefe beauties 
have not, apparently, been beftowed in vain ; but feem 
to have produced the mod violent attachment on the part 
©f the male: on the beginning of the fine weather, at the 
end of winter, the male feeks for the female with great 
ardour; and, forgetting his ufual gentlenefs or ftupidity, 
he defends his mate even with fury, attacking every ob- 
jedl, that feems inclined to hurt her, with great boldnefs; 
and, at this time, though his bite is by no means poifon- 
ous, he faftens So firmly, that it is neceffary either to kill 
him, or to beat him violently on the nofe to make him 
quit his hold. The female ufually quits the woods or 
mountains about two months after the end of winter, on 
purpofe to depofit her eggs in the fand of the fea-Shore. 
Thefe eggs are laid to be always unequal in number, from 
thirteen to twenty-five. They are longer, but not thicker, 
than pigeons’ eggs. The outer covering is white and 
flexible, more like thofe of the fea-tortoife than the eggs 
of crocodiles. The infide is whitifn, and has no glairy 
matter, like the white in birds’ eggs. Moft travellers fay, 
that thefe eggs give an excellent relifh to fauces, and that 
their tafte is preferable to that of poultry-eggs. 
The guana, according to moft authors, fwims with dif¬ 
ficulty, though it is mostly found on the Shores of the fea, 
and the banks of livers. Catefby fays, that, when in the 
water, it ufes its tail almoft alone for Swimming, keeping 
all its feet drawn clofe up to its belly. But it runs with 
aftoniShing nimblenefs along even the liigheft branches of 
trees, around which it twifts its body and tail, concealing 
the head in the various foldings of the body. In Surinam, 
the guana, with various other lizards and feveral kinds of 
ferpents, frequent the branches of a fweet-fmelling fpe¬ 
cies of jafmine. When they have regaled themfelves with 
food, they retire to reft on the branches which overhang 
the water; and at this time, notwithstanding their ufual 
agility, they become quite Stupid, and are eafily caught. 
The natural gentlenefs of their diSpofitions, increased per¬ 
haps by that languor to which moft lizards and ferpents 
are fubject after fwallowing a considerable quantity of 
food, occasions the tranquillity and inattention, remarked 
by moft voyagers, with which thefe animals, though na¬ 
turally timid and adtive, permit the approach of danger. 
The guana is difficultly killed, by blows, or even by 
wounds from fire-arms; but it dies very fpeedily, after 
puffiing any Sharp inftrument, even a Straw, up its noftrils; 
this occafions the flow of a few drops of blood, after 
which the animal expires. The ftupidity or apathy, with 
refpedt to danger, which has been attributed to the guana, 
and which is almoSt always the companion of innocence, 
is fo great, that the animal is very eafily caught alive. Iti 
feveral countries of America, it is hunted with dogs that 
are trained to the chafe; but it is likewife eafily taken in 
traps, or by the following artifice: the perfon who means 
to catch a guana, takes a long Slick, having a fmall ftrong 
chord at its extremity, formed into a running nooSe ; 
when he difcovers a guana extended on the branch of a 
tree, balking in the beams of the fun, he advances Slowly, 
whiftling in a particular manner; the animal feems pleafed 
with the found, and extends its head as if to liften; coin¬ 
ing gradually nearer, and continuing to whiftle, he be¬ 
gins by tickling the fides and throat of the guana, which 
not only admits this liberty, but turns itfelf up gently to 
receive it, feeming delighted with the treacherous carelfes s 
thus, feducing it, as it were, by tickling and by the found 
of his whiftle, to its ruin, he induces it gradually to lift 
its head from among the branches, and dexterously Slips the 
noofe over its neck ; then, giving it a Sudden jerk, cauies 
it to fall on the ground, and, feizing it by the root of the 
tail, places one of his feet on its body to hold it fall. 
Notwithstanding the apparent natural ftupidity and gen¬ 
tlenefs of the guana, it no fooner finds its confidence thus 
grofsly abufed, but it endeavours to affume a violence that 
does not feem congenial to its nature: it becomes ex¬ 
tremely agitated ; its throat fwells out with rage, its eyes 
feem all on fire, and it opens its large mouth: but all its 
efforts are now in vain ; the hunter, preffing it to the 
ground with his whole Strength, holds it fall, till he has 
tied its mouth and legs, fo that it is no longer capable ei¬ 
ther of flight or defence. The guana may be kept alive 
without food for feveral days. When firft taken, it feems 
exceffively averfe from the restraint; it is then appa¬ 
rently defirous of biting, but foon becomes tame, and even 
familiar, and may be kept in gardens, or even in houfes, 
with great fafety. In this Slate of domefticity, it gene¬ 
rally refts during the day, and goes about at night; at 
which feafon, owing to its eyes being conftrudted like 
thoS'e of cats, it is more readily able to feize infedts, on 
which it chiefly feeds. When walking about, it is fre¬ 
quently feen to dart out its tongue, probably to catch 
Small flies. Brown relates, that he kept a full-grown, 
guana in his lioufe for more than two months. At firft,, 
it appeared fierce and mifchievous, but became gentle in 
a few days. It lay quiet on a bed for the moft part dur¬ 
ing the day, but ran about at night, and was never ob- 
ferved to eat any thing, but feemed to lap up fmall parti¬ 
cles floating in the air with its tongue, which were cer¬ 
tainly minute infects, darting out its tongue to catch thefe, 
while walking about, exadtly like the chameleon. The 
fleSh of the guana, according to Brown, is much esteemed,. 
aucl 
