LIZARDS. 69 
to a tenth or even much more than a hundredth part of their 
number; reference, therefore, will only be made to those which 
are the most suitable for confinement, the most interesting, or 
the most easily obtained in this country. 
Geckotide. — According to a comparatively recent rearrange- 
ment of the Lizards, the first on our list will be the family Gecko- 
tide. In this family there are about 57 genera and 270 species. 
A Gecko may be easily known from other Lizards by its de- 
pressed head and body, its short, stout legs, and, generally, dise- 
bearing feet, its large eye, and, as a rule, vertically contracting 
pupil, indicating its nocturnal habits, and its tail thick at the 
base. 
Dr. Giinther says that ‘‘ Geckos are found in almost every 
part of the globe between and near the tropics.” Another 
naturalist remarks that ‘‘ wherever a Lizard of any other family 
is found there also will be a Gecko.” However, no Geckos are 
natives of Britain. These creatures are spread over the warm 
countries of the world in a marvellous way, not only over con- 
tinents, but also over islands which are far remote from any 
mainland. They abound in valleys as well as upon the hills, 
in forests and on'the plains, in the busy city, and in the solitary 
desert. They are natives of Europe, Asia, Africa, America, 
and Australasia. This very extensive distribution, as well as the 
formation of their backbone prove them to be of an extremely 
ancient family. 
Geckos live in houses, in ruins, in holes in rocks, in holes in 
walls, in hollows of trees, under stones, on the ground, and in 
burrows in banks. They are, though quarrelsome, very gre- 
garious, and may often be seen on some wall or rocky bank in 
great numbers. They bask in the sun during the day, and 
become exceedingly lively as night draws on, for they are, with 
few exceptions, nocturnal in their habits. Those Geckos which 
may be described as diurnal possess eyes having round pupils. 
The Geckos are of a very pugnacious disposition, and con- 
stantly fight among themselves. I have seen them, as they 
basked in the sun, resent, with a curious noise and a short, 
fierce rush, but returning immediately to their former position, 
the approach of either a fellow Gecko or a Lizard of some family 
