File:Reptiles and birds - a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting (1883) (14752310765).jpg

Identifier: reptilesbirds00figu (find matches)
Title: Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting
Year: 1883 (1880s)
Authors: Figuier, Louis, 1819-1894 Gillmore, Parker
Subjects: Reptiles Birds
Publisher: London : Cassell & Co.
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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at the chameleons are the only lizards in which thatcurious phenomenon is observable. Of one remarkable species, theSphcBiops anonialus^ inhabiting Brazil, it is stated that the eye nearlyresembles that of the true chameleons, it is also one of those whichare particularly celebrated for changing its hue. The name Iguana was given by Laurenti to a heterogeneous gi-cupof Saurians, various foniis being included which were first separatedby Daudin. The Iguanas, as thus restricted, are characterised by avery lajge thin dew-lap under the neck, a double row of small palatalteeth, and a crest on the back and tail; the latter long, slender, com- no REPTILES AND BIRDS. pressed and covered with small imbricated and carinated scales.Messrs. Dumeril and Bibron describe the genus, thus modified, asprincipally remarkable for the cutaneous prolongation which consti-tutes the deep and thin dew-lap, or pouch, the free border of whichdescribes a curved line, and is dentated at the part nearest the chin.
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Fig. 27. —Common Iguana. The head is moderately long, and has the form of a pyramid withfour faces. The neck is slightly compressed, the limbs long, the toesunequal and sometimes denticulate on the edge. The five toes of theposterior feet are graduated ; the tail, which is long and slender, isslightly flattened from right to left. The Iguanas live chiefly ontrees, but they take readily to the water, and swim with great facility.There are numerous species, all of which are found in SouthAmerica and the Antilles. In the Island of Isabella, Sir E. Belcher IGUANAS. 111 found swarms of them which he had reason to consider omnivorous,feeding voraciously on birds eggs and the intestines of birds andinsects. The Common Iguana (7. tuberculata^ Fig. 27), which inhabits agreat part of South America, is one of the best known of this family.These Reptiles are easily recognised from the large pouch underneaththe neck, and the dentated crest which extends from the head to theextremity of the tail.

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