THE LIVING WORLD. 
i 45 
the night, and the entire season of the great heats, it retires into the hollows 
of rocks, or into the holes of old trees, and it passes about five or six months 
of the year there in a state of lethargy. This reptile is considered by the 
negroes as a delicious meat, and is accordingly sought after by them with great 
avidity. According to the report of the colonists, its flesh resembles in flavor 
that of the roebuck, 
and the maroon dogs 
make great slaughter 
among these reptiles. 
The colors of this igu¬ 
ana are not precisely 
known. 
The Monitor ( Mon¬ 
itor nilolicus ), so called 
from the fanciful idea 4 „ 
that it gives timely hedge lizard. 
warning of the prox¬ 
imity of any venomous serpent, is a habitant of the Nile, and also the marsh 
regions of India. It grows to a length of about six feet, and has both the 
power and disposition to do mankind inestimable service in destroying the eggs 
and young of the crocodile. Its tail is equal to the length of the body, and, 
being flat, propels the animal swiftly through the water. The head is sharp- 
pointed, the neck is thick and strong, and its feet are armed with powerful 
talons. The mouth is pro¬ 
vided with small but sharp 
teeth, and, singular enough, 
its tongue is round and forked 
like that of a snake. On 
account of its usefulness the 
Nile dwellers have great re¬ 
gard for its life, but many 
of the lowest caste of Hindoos 
hunt it persistently for food. 
The Hedge Lizard ( La- 
certa sterpium ) is a harmless 
little creature that may be 
found in all parts of America, 
making his abode under the 
bark of decaying logs, and 
basking in the sun on rail 
fences. His coat is gray and 
rough, and his tail so friable 
that the slightest stroke will 
I. VARAN OE THE NILE- 2- VARAN OE THE DESERT. brea k ^ beiDg bereft 
of his tail by accident gives him little concern, for the damage is speedily 
repaired by the growth of a new one. I have often found their nests under 
the bark of the lowermost rail of a worm fence, and tried to hatch them out, 
but without success. The eggs are usually six in number, and connected 
together like beads. I do not think the creature gives any attention to the eggs 
