Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Reptiles. 



sudden awkward movement from fright ; the new tail, which soon 

 replaces the lost one, is generally slightly different in size, color, 

 and scaling from the original, and must not he mistaken for a new 

 specific character ; it is generally depressed, often fusiform, and 

 sometimes flattened and dilated. The teeth are confined to the 

 jaws, and are " pleurodont," or ranged in a channel in each jaw, 

 and only fixed to the outer parapet of hone hy the side or external 

 face of the root ; they are close, nearly equal, compressed, and 

 sharp-pointed. 



The males are smaller, more slender, and more agile, and more 

 brightly colored than the females. 



The hrown and grey mottled colors of most of the species vary 

 a good deal at will, to assimilate to the tint and style of coloring 

 of the hark, &c, on which they rest, and from which only the 

 brilliancy of their eyes distinguishes them. Their movements are 

 sudden, and surprisingly swift and noiseless. 



The various genera of Geckoes form two groups, the one with 

 the toes more or less dilated, and having retractile claws, hooked, 

 and lodged in a sheath when withdrawn ; the other with slender 

 toes and simple, non -retractile claws, not hooked, and with no 

 sheath ; and of these two groups our plate gives an example of 

 each. 



The present species, P. Miliusii, is one of the most striking 

 Geckoes of the slender-toed group, having the toes bent nearly at 

 right angles with each joint, giving them the appearance of having 

 been broken or deformed. The broad, thick, heart-shaped tail, and 

 beautiful, transverse, dark and light banding of the color of the 

 upper surface, render this one of the most striking Lizards of the 

 northern warm parts of the colony. It is rarely found south of 

 Sandhurst. 



Explanation of Figures. 

 Plate 132 — Fig. 1, average specimen, natural size, seen from above. Fig. la, side view of 

 head, magnified two diameters. Fig. 16, top view of head, magnified two diameters. Fig. le, 

 front view of snout, to show rostral, chin, and anterior labial, plates, with the plate at anterior 

 inner edge of each nostril, and the granules between the nostrils ; magnified two diameters. 

 Fig. lrf, eye and eye-lids, magnified two diameters. Fig. le, portion of back and side, magnified 

 two diameters, showing the conical tubercles amongst the granular scales of back, the promi- 

 nent lateral ridge or fold, and the smooth belly scales. Fig. 1/, smooth scales of belly, magn i fied 

 two diameters. Fig. \g, conical tubercle of back, with surrounding small granular scales, 

 magnified six diameters. Fig. \h, under- side of foot, showing transverse scaling and projecting 

 claws, magnified three diameters. Fig. It, one of the toes, magnified four diameters, viewed 

 from below, to show scaling. Fig. \k, ditto, viewed from the side. 



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