They inhabit burrows; which they sometimes excavate
between fragments of lava, but more generally on level
patches of the soft volcanic sandstone. 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. This animal when excavating its burrow, alternately
works the opposite sides of its body. One froirt leg
for a short time scratches up the soil, and throws it towards
the hind foot, which is well placed so as to heave it beyond
the mouth of the hole. This side of the body being tired,
the other takes up the task, and so on alternately. I watched
one for a long time, till half its body was buried; I then
walked up and puUed it by the tail; at this it was greatly
astonished, and soon shuffled up to see what was the matter;
and then stared me in the face, as much as to say, “ H hat
made you pull my tail r”
They feed by day, and do not wander far from their
burrows ; and if frightened they rush to them with a most
awkward gait. Except when running down hill, they cannot
move very fast; which appears chiefly owing to the
lateral position of their legs.
They are not at all timorous : when attentively watching
anv one, they curl their tails, and raising themselves on their
front legs, imd their heads vertically, with a quick movement,
and try to look very fierce : but in reality they are not at aU
so ; if one just stamps the ground, down go their tails, and
off they shuffle as quickly as they can. I have frequently observed
small muscivorous lizards, when watching any thing,
nod their heads in precisely the same manner; hut I do not
at aU know for what purpose. If this Amblyrhyncus is held,
and plagued vith a stick, it will bite it very severely; but I
caught many by the tail, and they never tried to bite me. If
two are placed on the ground and held together, they will
fight and bite each other till blood is drawn.
“The individuals (and they are the greater number) which
inhabit the lower country, can scarcely taste a drop of water
throughout the year; but they consume much of the succulent
cactus, the branches of which are occasionally broken
off by the wind. I have sometimes thrown a piece to two
or three when together; and it was amusing enough to see
each trying to sieze and carry it away in its mouth, like so
many hungry dogs with a bone. They eat very deliberately,
but do not chew their food. The little birds are aware how
harmless these creatures are: I have seen one of the thickbilled
finches picking at one end of a piece of cactus (which
is in request among all the animals of the lower region),
whilst a lizard was eating at the other; and afterwards the
little bird with the utmost indifference hopped on the back
of the reptile.
I opened the stomachs of several, and found them full of
vegetable fibres, and leaves of different trees, especially of a
species of acacia. In the upper region they live chiefly on
the acid and astringent berries of the guayavita, under which
trees I have seen these lizards and the huge tortoises feeding
together. To obtain the acacia-leaves, they crawl up the low
stunted trees; and it is not uncommon to see one or a pair
quietly browsing, whilst seated on a branch several feet above
the ground.
The meat of these animals when cooked is white, and by
those whose stomachs rise above all prejudices, it is relished
as very good food. Humboldt has remarked that in intertropical
South America, all lizards which inhabit dry regions
are esteemed delicacies for the table. The inhabitants say,
that those inhabiting the damp region drink water, but
that the others do not travel up for it from the sterile
country like the tortoises. At the time of our visit, the
females had within their bodies numerous large elongated
eggs. These they lay in their burrows, and the inhabitants
seek them for food.
These two species of Amblyrhyncus agree, as I have
already stated, in general structure, and in many of their
habits. Neither have that rapid movement, so characteristic
!#