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Updated: June 14, 2025
Whatever the reason may be why Providence determines these creatures to this season of laying their eggs, rather than the dry, in fact it is so, as I have constantly observed; and that not only with the sea-turtle but with all other sorts of amphibious animals that lay eggs; as crocodiles, alligators, iguanas etc.
Evidently the iguanas were digging out holes in the bank in which to lay their eggs; for there were several such holes, and iguanas working at them. The snake had crushed its prey to a pulp; and not more than a couple of feet away another iguana was still busily, and with entire unconcern, engaged in making its burrow.
What they saw slowly traversing the branch above them was one of those huge lizards of the genus Hydrosaurus, of which there are several species in Indian climes like the iguanas of America harmless creatures, despite their horrid appearance, and often furnishing to the hunter or forester a meal of chops and steaks both tender and delicious.
There are snakes here, too. Everywhere their sinuous tracks are visible on the sand, criss-crossing with the more defined scratchy markings of those of iguanas.
As a matter of fact the iguanas are harmless, their shape and coloring being designed to protect them. "Don't be afraid, Mr. Damon," called Tom, still laughing. "It won't hurt you!" "I'm not so positive of that. It won't let me pass." "Just take your club and poke it out of the way," the young inventor advised. "It's only waiting to be shoved." "Then you do it, Tom.
Think, too, of the poor green and brown tree frogs with their sucker feet, compelled always to hop along the ground! Lizards, from tiny swifts to sixty-inch iguanas, would sorely miss the trees, while the lithe green tree snakes and the tree boas would have to change all their life habits in order to be able to exist. But as for the cold, uncanny turtles and alligators, what are trees to them!
My defeated rival was a man of very considerable power, and I knew quite well that if I did not get the best of him he would have me driven out of the tribe and perhaps speared. Mention of the snake incident reminds me of a very peculiar and interesting sport which the blacks indulge in. I refer to fights between snakes and iguanas. These combats certainly afford very fine sport.
The two creatures are always at mortal enmity with one another, but as a rule the iguana commences the attack, no matter how much bigger the snake may be than himself; or whether it is poisonous or not. I have seen iguanas attack black snakes from six feet to ten feet in length, whilst they themselves rarely measured more than three or four feet.
There are, however, numerous species of iguanas; indeed, the family contains fifty genera the true iguanas being all inhabitants of the New World.
Birds as big as these, and iguanas as huge as the three we've seen, to say nothing of the enormous flying fish Morris Shine claims to have seen, take me back to the Dark Ages. I daresay we're seeing the tag end of the giants. God knows how old these birds and reptiles are, hundreds of years, at least. I'd give almost anything to get one of those birds and stuff him.
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