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Iguanas, or guanas, are a genus of lizards, one species of which is known to zoologists as the Iguana tuoerculata. They are of a bright, green color when young, that hue changing to a dusky brown as the reptile advances in age. According to Webster, the term, Iguana, is derived from the Spanish name given to the animal by the natives of Haiti, in which island the iguana abounds. They are found also in the other West India islands and in some parts of South America. The size of these creatures varies from that of the common lizard, or nuto, to over four feet ill length from the nose to the end of the tail. The head is similar in shape to that of an ordinary lizard, and is covered with a scaly armor of a pink color, tinged occasionally with blue and brown. The eyes resemble those of a fowl, and though small are very bright. The back is provided with a serrated comb, which extends from the nape of the neck to within a few inches of the end of the tail. The animal can elevate this or depress it at will, and with its tail can deal a lusty whack, inflicting sometimes a severe gash with this saw-like comb, some anecdotes of which peculiarity will be given further on. In old age, the skin assumes the appearance of old leather, being wrinkled in many parts, and it is so tough that with difficulty. can it be penetrated by a shot. Iguanas inhabit, generally, thickly wooded spots, where they perch on high trees, and, as they are of a green color, they can easily conceal themselves among the branches and leaves while they await their prey. Unlike chameleons, they are very lively in their movements, and will even pounce from a tree to the ground in order to seize what they want. The food of guanas consists of herbage, insects, and poultry and their eggs, the latter of which they devour with great avidity and are very cunning in perceiving them. I once saw one of these reptiles attack a. hen with her brood of chickens. Darting from a tree, it made a rush at the chickens, on which the mother flew at it and pecked it ; but Mr. Guana was not to be outdone, so, though evidently smarting eaten by some epicures, but I think the former has too strong a likeness to that of frog's flesh, and the latter to the ggs of serpents to be relished by persons not accustomed to uch diet. I have noticed several specimens of the guana exhibited in some of the druggists' windows in this country, some of which, I presume, have been brought from the island St. Thomas, D. W. I., to which place the foregoing narrative has reference. J. R. G
