8'4 



SAURIA. — GECKOTID^. 



panum or drum, a membrane sunk considerably 

 below tbe general surface, the orifice bordered 

 by two folds of skin. The skin is very loosely 

 attached to the muscles, weak, and easily torn : it 

 is roughened with minute granular scales, which, 

 on the sides and hinder parts become more in- 

 clined, and overlapping, and on the under parts 

 take the form of regular scales. The tail varies 

 in length, but never exceeds that of the body ; 

 like that of most Lizards, it is very brittle, and 

 liable to be separated by accident ; it is, how- 

 ever, soon replaced. In some species, the sides 

 of the body, the tail, and the limbs, are furnished 

 with expansions of the skin, sometimes fringed or 

 van dyked in a singular manner. The males have 

 femoral pores more frequently than the females, 

 but not invariably. 



** The skull of the Gechotidce is marked by 

 some pecuhar characters. The bones are well- 

 defined, nor do the 

 sutures seem to be 

 obliterated by age. 

 In general contour it 

 approaches the skull 

 of the Crocodilidce by 

 its width, its flatness, 



and its length ; its par- 

 ticular resemblances 

 to the same part in 

 that Family are to be 

 found in the disposi- 

 tion of the orbits, 

 and the articulation of the jaws. The excava- 

 tions for the eyes are very large,^ and apparently 

 incomplete, inasmuch as the orbital frame is not 



^'"^fOBOEffffiftiir 



SKULL OF GECKO. 



