Arizona silver belt. [volume] (Globe City, Pinal County, Ariz.) 1878-19??, 1886-04-10
A Terrlbis Locking Creaturs-A Table
DeIIeacy - Enchanted by Music

DeIlehcy - Enchanted by Music.
Dan C. peerd n Scientific Americana
One can scarcely imagine q more teri
riblo looking creature than full grown
iguana. Instead of being discouraged,
however, by its looks, tho animal seems
to delight in its ugliRess, and to great
extent rely upon its formidable appear.
ance for protection. When alarmed, Ii
will puff itself up, erect the spine upon
its back, and expect by this means to
brighten away its enemies; aud 1t its
harmless nature were not well known it
would seldom he molested, but might
bask in the sun for centuries 10 come,
instead OF becoming comparative
rarity by gradual determination
The common iguana is from three 10
FIVE and even six feet long when full
grown II iuhabits tho West Indies and
tropical America, and belongs TO an ey-
ceodingly numerous family of lizards,
AS rule, all of these relatives have
broad, Hat heads, often ornamented
with comh-li6e ridges or membranous
lobes; similar APPENDICES USUALLY con-
tinue along the dorSal region, The
throat is almost invariably furnished
with dewlap, or membrduouS pam
sion OF some kind, Their eyes are al
ways furnished with lids, which may
be completely closed; their tongues are
short, thick, and only free at tho end.
and their ears are freely exposed,
There can be but little doubt but that
the white population Of tropical Amer.
lea learned TO eat the flesh OF the igu.
ana from the ancient Indians, In Mr..
bryan Edwards History Of the Wost
Indies, " published some 100 years ago,
he says: Il believe 1t seldom happens
that they the iguanal were served at
any English table, but their French and
Spanish neighborS still devour them
with exquisite relish. Mr.. Edwards
also says bio has been assured by a lady
Of great beauty and elegance, who
spoke from experience, that the iguana
is equal in favor and wholesomeness 70
the finest green turtle
The oldllime priests evidently enjoyed
the flesh Of this lizard as well as the
sport Of its capture, If We may judge
from the following e,tract from tho
writings OF Father I.abat, which APP
peared in The Sporting Magazine for
September, 1904;
"We were attended" says he, "by q.
negro, who carried a long rod. at one
end Of which was piece OF whip cord
with a running knot After beating the
bushes SONS time, tho negro discovered
our game basking 10 the sun, or a dry
limb OF o tree; hercupOn he began
whistling with all his might, TO which
tho iguana was wonderfully attentive,
stretching out his head and turning his
neck. as If to en- 'oy it more fully The
negro now approached, still Rhistling,
and, advancing his rod gently,
began tickling with the end Of
it the sides and throat Of
the iguana, who seemed nightly
pleased with the operation, for he
turned on his back and stretched him
self out like q cat before q ERE. and at
length fairly fell asleep; which the
negro perceiving, dextGrously slipped
the moose over his head, aud with a jerk
brought him to tie ground. Good sport
it afforded continues the reverend his
torian) to see the creature swell like u
turkey cock at fading himself en-
trapped. We caught others in the same
way, and kept one Of Them alive sercn
or eight days, but it grieyed me 70 the
heart that he thereby lost much do.
licious fat "