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.
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