these islands, they
opened their fire, and continued it till--frightened by so many
explosions and the screams of the wounded, clinging to and hanging
from the branches--the bats would fly away in a body--en masse. For
some time they would whirl and turn round and round like a dense
cloud over their abandoned home, imitating, in a most perfect way,
those furies we see in certain engravings representing the infernal
regions, and then, flying off a short distance, would perch upon the
trees in a neighbouring isle. If the sportsmen were not over-fatigued
by the slaughter they might then follow them, and set-to again; but
they generally found they had made victims enough, and diversified
their pleasure by picking up the slain from under the trees. The bat
shooting over, our sportsmen would then proceed to a new sport--

"To fresh fields and pastures new;"

that is, in pursuit of and shooting at the iguanas, a large species of
lizard, measuring from five to six feet long, which infest the rocks
on the borders of the lake. Tired of firing without being obliged to
show any skill, our chasseurs would re-embark in their pirogues and
row in search of new amusement,--this was, to shoot at the eagles that
came hovering over their heads. Here skill was requisite, as well
as a prompt, sure glance of the eye, as it is only with ball that
these enormous birds of prey can be reached. Our fowlers would then
return home, with their boats full of game; and everyone, of course,
had his own feats of prowess to relate.

The flesh of the iguana and the bat is savoury and delicate; but as
for its taste, that entirely depends upon the imagination, as may
here be seen.

After returning from one of these grand shooting excursions to the
minor islands, a young American informed me that his friends and he
himself were most desirous of tasting the iguana and the bat; so,
supposing them all to be of the same mind, I ordered my maitre-d'hotel
to prepare for dinner a curry of iguana and a ragout of bats. The
first dish served round at dinner was the curry, of which they one
and all partook with very good appetite; upon which I ventured to say:
"You see the flesh of the iguana is most delicate." At these words all
my guests turned pale, and they all, by a sudden motion, pushed their
plates from before them, not even being able to swallow what their
mouths contained. I was therefore obliged to order the removal of
the entrees o