The guana is ſhaped like a crocodile. Its head, body, feet, and tail, reſembling thoſe of that animal. It is of a green colour, but can change it at pleaſure to a light aſh colour, as it always does when alarmed. It has gills like a cock, but of a pale colour, and a horny ſubſtance, like the comb of that bird, reaching from its noſe to the neck. It has ſtrong ſharp teeth, ſhaped like a lancet, with which it bites ſeverely; its tail is alſo armed with ſtrong, blunt points, with which it wounds the legs of thoſe who take it, if they are not careful, as it laſhes ſtrongly with its tail, which is very ſupple, and nearly twice as long as the other part of its body.
This animal is commonly between two and three feet long, from the tip of the noſe to the end of the tail; and when of that length, about four or five inches thick, eſpecially the females, about the belly, when breeding; at which time they are full of eggs.
