but after some few days it grew more tame, and would at length pass the greatest part of the day upon the bed or couch, but always went out at night. The flesh of this creature is liked by many people, and frequently served up in fricassees at their tables, in which state it is often preferred to the best fowls. When taken young, the Guana is easily tamed, and is both a harmless and beautiful creature in that state.”
In the unpublished MSS. of Dr. Robinson on the Natural History of Jamaica, preserved in the Library of the Jamaica Society, the Iguana is spoken of as familiarly known in that island. After some descriptive notes, he observes,–
“They are said to be inoffensive animals, and meddle with no living creature, unless first attacked, when they bite hard. One of them bit a cat’s paw quite off, that was held to it; and I have seen the above snap at a stick that has been held towards it, with great tokens of wrath, sullenness, and fierceness. They are found in Salt Pond Hills, where they live upon vegetables and fruit; and can by the help of their open toes climb upon trees and shrubs. They hide themselves in holes among the rocks, and are hunted with small dogs by the negroes, who sell them in the towns to many people who admire them as a great delicacy. Their flesh is said to be very white, tender, and well tasted, and even superior to that of a chicken; but for my part I never had an opportunity of tasting this animal’s flesh. The fat is said to be good to cleanse iron utensils with, and preserve them from rust.”
We think it very probable, however, that both these notes of Robinson’s, and those already
