Their limbs and strong claws are admirably adapted
for crawling over the rugged and fissured masses of lava which
everywhere form the coast. In such situations a group of six or
seven of these hideous reptiles may oftentimes be seen on the black
rocks, a few feet above the surf, basking in the sun with
outstretched legs.
I opened the stomachs of several, and found them largely distended
with minced sea-weed (Ulvae), which grows in thin foliaceous
expansions of a bright green or a dull red colour. I do not
recollect having observed this sea-weed in any quantity on the
tidal rocks; and I have reason to believe it grows at the bottom of
the sea, at some little distance from the coast. If such be the
case, the object of these animals occasionally going out to sea is
explained. The stomach contained nothing but the sea-weed. Mr.
Bynoe, however, found a piece of a crab in one; but this might have
got in accidentally, in the same manner as I have seen a
caterpillar, in the midst of some lichen, in the paunch of a
tortoise. The intestines were large, as in other herbivorous
animals. The nature of this lizard's food, as well as the structure
of its tail and feet, and the fact of its having been seen
voluntarily swimming out at sea, absolutely prove its aquatic
habits; yet there is in this respect one strange anomaly, namely,
that when frightened it will not enter the water.
Pages:
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753