of the archipelago, and thence had been dispersed only to a certain
distance. Some of these lizards inhabit the high and damp parts of the
islands, but they are much more numerous in the lower and sterile
districts near the coast. I cannot give a more forcible proof of their
numbers, than by stating that when we were left at James Island, we
could not for some time find a spot free from their burrows on which to
pitch our single tent. Like their brothers the sea-kind, they are ugly
animals, of a yellowish orange beneath, and of a brownish red colour
above: from their low facial angle they have a singularly stupid
appearance. They are, perhaps, of a rather less size than the marine
species; but several of them weighed between ten and fifteen pounds. In
their movements they are lazy and half torpid. When not frightened,
they slowly crawl along with their tails and bellies dragging on the
ground. They often stop, and doze for a minute or two, with closed
eyes and hind legs spread out on the parched soil.
They inhabit burrows, which they sometimes make between fragments of
lava, but more generally on level patches of the soft sandstone-like
tuff. The holes do not appear to be very deep, and they enter the
ground at a small angle; so that when walking over these
lizard-warrens, the soil is constantly giving way, much to the
annoyance of the tired walker. This animal, when making its burrow,
works alternately the opposite sides of its body. One front leg for a
short time scratches up the soil, and throws it towards the hind foot,
which is well placed so as to heave it beyond the mouth of the hole.
That side of the body being tired, the other takes up the task, and so
on alternately. I watched one for a long time, till half its body was
buried; I then walked up and pulled it by the tail, at this it was
greatly astonished, and soon shuffled up to see what was the matter;
and then stared me in the face, as much as to say, "What made you pull
my tail?"
They feed by day, and do not wander far from their burrows; if
frightened, they rush to them with a most awkward gait. Except when
running down hill, they cannot move very fast, apparently from the
lateral position of their legs. They are not at all timorous: when
attentively watching any one, they curl their tails, and, raising
themselves on their front legs, nod their heads vertically, with a
quick movement, and try to look very fierce; but in reality they are
not at all so: if one just stamps on the ground, down go their tails,
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