S2 SAURIA. GECKOTID^. 



jecting over the edge, and their tails curled round 

 one of the small divisions of the wicker-work, and 

 it was curious to observe the firmness of their 

 hold in this way. On going in with a candle, 

 they always appeared of a pale ashy stone-colour 

 or a spectral blue, like the tint cast upon the 

 face by coming opposite a blue bottle in a 

 chemist's window. Their motions were exceed- 

 ingly slow, always firmly attaching one foot before 

 letting go wdth the other. They were lost several 

 times, and Mr. SKght was afraid to step about 

 the room, lest he should tread on them, but they 

 were generally found in the folds of the curtain, 

 not on the blue lining, but on the chintz. One side 

 was often seen nearly of a stone colour, while the 

 other was blackish green ; the changes of hue 

 were ahvays rapid, and attended by either eleva- 

 tion or depression of the ribs. 



Family II. Geckotid.e. 



{Geckos.) 



The Greckos form a numerous but well-defined 

 Family, widely diffused over the hot regions of 

 both hemispheres. They are all of small size, 

 but of somewhat uncouth proportions, and of 

 repulsive appearance ; the head being large and 

 flat, the neck short, the body stout and protu- 

 berant, with the line of the back rather depressed 

 than ridged. The eyes are full and large, and 

 being destitute of visible eyelids, always appear 

 staring ; the pupil is, for the most part, a perpen- 

 dicular line by day, with notched edges. The 

 feet are nearly equal, short, stout, and terminated 



