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



Like all the Geckoes, these Diplodactyli are small, nocturnal 

 Lizards, with the tips of the toes generally more or less dilated. 

 This species is a good example of those having an apparent 

 doubling of the greatly swollen distal ends of the toes, with the 

 terminal joint and claw so minute as to seem hid in the notch 

 between the two large pads. 



They live on insects and worms, which they swallow whole, the 

 oesophagus being very large. The males are smaller than the 

 females. The tails are very brittle and easily lost, and reproduced, 

 with some slight differences, from the original in the form of the 



scales, &c. 



This species is abundant in the northern parts of the colony, 

 found lurking under the deciduous bark of trees in the day time, 

 the brownish or purplish-ashy mottlings almost exactly coinciding 

 in appearance with the bark, rendering them very difficult of detec- 

 tion except for the brightness of the beautiful bronze eye. Some 

 specimens have the transverse, dark marbling more distinct, and 

 with the light color less broken, while others have the pattern more 

 complex. The under-side is destitute of markings in all the 

 specimens. 



The specimen figured is from Echuca. Not figured of the color 

 of life before. 



Explanation of Figures. 



Plate 132. — Fig. 2, average specimen, natural size. Fig. 2a, side view of head, magnified 

 two diameters. Fig. 26, top view of head, magnified two diameters. Fig. 2c, front view of 

 head, magnified two diameters, to show rostral, mental, and labial plates, and those between 

 the nostrils. Fig. 2d, under view, showing scales of base of abdomen and tail, and under-side 

 of hind legs, magnified two diameters. Fig. 2e, upper side of hind foot, magnified two diameters, 

 to show upper scaling. Fig. 2i, upper side of anterior foot, magnified two diameters. Fig. 2f, 

 under side of anterior foot, to show arrangement of scales with the double dilated pads at the 

 tips, with the minute terminal joint between them. Fig. 2g, portion of one of the toes, 

 magnified four diameters, to show the scales and plates near tip, viewed from below. Fig. 2h, 

 ditto, viewed from above. 



Frederick McCoy. 



[ 125 ] 



