See yonder hideous-faced creature, nearly six feet in length, the size
of many alligators, its head covered with scaly plates, a huge dewlap
depending from its throat, its body and long tail covered with small
imbricated scales, its back garnished with a row of spines, and on its
thigh a number of porous tubercles, while its legs and claws are
wide-spreading.
As it crawls along a bough overhead, the bravest man who had never
before seen it would undoubtedly get out of its way, expecting it to
leap down and seize him. Yet the iguana, ugly as is its countenance, is
perfectly harmless; except that it can give a sharp bite with its
compressed triangular and serrated teeth. It lives generally on trees.
When hard-pressed it takes to the water, and swims with ease,--pressing
its legs close to its sides, and sculling itself on with its tail; while
it can remain an hour or more under water without suffering.
The flesh of the iguana, unfortunately for itself, is considered
excellent; and hunters go out to catch it with a noose at the end of a
long stick, which they cast round its neck, and then by a sudden jerk
pull it to the ground. As the creature seems to fancy that it cannot be
reached on the bough, it seldom moves on the approach of the hunter, and
is thus easily caught. It lashes out with its tail, however, and tries
to bite, when once it finds itself entrapped; and being also very
tenacious of life, it is not killed without repeated heavy blows, or a
pistol-shot in its head.
The common iguanas are numerous in the neighbourhood of villages, where
they climb the trees for the sake of their fruit. Some species lay
their eggs--which are about an inch and a half in length, and oblong--in
hollow trees. Others are known to do so in the sand, to be hatched by
the heat of the sun. They are considered delicacies, and are much
sought after in consequence.
The colour of the iguana changes, like that of the chameleon. The
Brazilians, indeed, call it the chameleon. Its food consists almost
entirely of fruits and other vegetable substances, though some species
are supposed to be omnivorous. The natives frequently tame it, when it
willingly allows itself to be carried about by its owner, though it at
once distinguishes strangers.
There are, however, numerous species of iguanas; indeed, the family
contains fifty genera--the true iguanas being all inhabitants of the New
World. To its predecessor, which it closely resembles in bony
structure, the largest is but a mere pigmy--for that extinct monster
must have been about seventy feet in length, the length of the tail
alone being fifty-two feet, and the circumference of the body fourteen
and a half feet; while its thigh-bone was twenty times the size of that
of the modern iguana. Vast as was the inhabitant of the ancient world,
it was herbivorous, like that of the comparatively Lilliputian creature
of the present day.
Everywhere the agile, beautifully-tinted lizards abound, sunning
themselves on logs of wood, or scampering over the sandy soil. Now they
may be seen turning round the trunk of a tree, much as a squirrel does,
watching the passer-by, and trying to keep out of sight. Some are of a
dark coppery colour, others have backs of the most brilliant silky green
and blue, while others are marked with delicate shades of yellow and
brown.
The largest of their family is the teguexin, or variegated lizard.
Sometimes it is called the safeguard, from the idea--probably an idle
fable--that, like the monitors of the Nile, they give notice of the
approach of the alligator by their loud hissing.
There are several species which inhabit the hot, sandy plains, or dense,
damp underwood near the rivers and lakes. One of them exceeds five feet
in length, and is extremely active. It feeds almost entirely on snakes,
frogs, and toads, but occasionally devours poultry, and breakfasts off
their eggs. It is also somewhat of a cannibal, for though it will not
eat its own species, it does occasionally those of a somewhat smaller
lizard allied to it. It possesses strong teeth, and can bite with great
force; indeed, when attacked it defends itself fiercely, and when
seizing a foe can seldom be compelled to let go.
Its colour is variable, but generally the upper parts of the body are
deep black, with mottlings of yellow or green; while on the higher
portions of its sides are a series of white spots, the under part being
chiefly yellow, with black bands.
The little ameiva, on which it occasionally preys, is of a dark olive
colour, speckled with black about the neck.
There is another large lizard, known as the great dragon (Ada
Guianensis). It is of an olive colour, with yellow below, and mottled
with brown; and frequently attains a length of six feet. While the
former cannot climb trees, it is a good swimmer. The great dragon
climbs with wonderful agility, but is said not to be very much at home
in the water. It also bites fiercely.
Both are hunted for the sake of their flesh; while their eggs--of which
thirty or forty are laid--are considered great delicacies.