340 
tremely brilliant; the legs short, toes dilated, four of them 
lamellated, the fifth hardly visible. In Bourbon, these 
reptiles are met with everywhere—in the houses, in the 
fields, and on the trees; but, in Mauritius, where they are 
by no means so numerous, you generally find them on the- 
Pandanus Vacqua, creeping along, and licking off the 
luscious pulp that covers the core of the fruit after the nuts 
have dropped off. When these reptiles are irritated, their 
brilliant colours change suddenly to a dusky hue. 
* The Gecko cameraria, C. is of a grey-colour, dotted 
with black. It is five inches long, of which the tail forms 
one half; body depressed, with a groove along the back; 
tail also depressed, and muricated on the sides. The toes 
are five in number, lamellated, and furnished with large 
hooked claws. A single row of subfemoral papille. May 
not these papillæ be peculiar to one of the sexes? During 
the day-time, these lizards remain concealed in holes and 
dark corners; but at night, they turn out in vast numbers, 
running along the walls and ceilings of rooms, and even on 
the glass of the windows, to which they adhere by means of 
their lamellated feet, preying on flies and small moths. 
Nor is it unamusing to watch their motions when the 
insects are on the opposite side of the glass, fluttering to 
get in to the light—the pause they make after each unsuc 
cessful dart of the tongue, as if confounded at having 
missed so fair a shot. In the hurry of pursuit, they some 
times miss their hold, and drop down. I do not know à 
more unpleasant sensation than that which is excited by the 
fall of one of these little reptiles on the face, or any other 
naked part of the body. It invariably falls on its belly, 
which feels as cold as a piece of ice, and remains for 
some time stunned, and, as it were, glued to the skin. 
The Scink is about eight inches in length, of a pale- 
brown colour. It is uncommonly active in its motions, à? 
very timid. In Bourbon it is abundant, but comparatively 
Tare in Mauritius, and confined for the most part t9 the 
coral-banks, _ 
“ Navigators have described, in most glowing languag® 
