LIZARDS. val 
There is no danger then of being eaten by their elders. StilJ, 
however, they maintain to a certain extent their “ retiring dis- 
position,” for, should they see that a full-grown Gecko has its 
eyes upon the same tempting insect as themselves, they will 
immediately modestly forego all claim to the prospective victim. 
This conduct on the part of the hobbledehoy (if such a word may 
be used in this sense) Gecko is very noticeable. His demeanour, 
however, is not due to any deference on his part, but is just 
simply a matter of prudence ; for when he arrives at a state of 
complete Gecko vigour, he will fight most fiercely with his seniors 
over some tempting prey. 
The other accomplishment of the Reptiles to which I have 
already referred, is their extraordinary power of climbing. They 
seem to set at naught the laws of gravitation; for not only can 
they ascend with the greatest ease smooth perpendicular walls, 
but they are also able to run along the ceiling of a room with 
the facility of a fly. I have seen my own Geckos sleeping, from 
choice, upon the ceiling of the Vivarium in which they lived. 
The curious and interesting construction of their feet provides 
this strange activity. The under-surfaces of their toes are pro- 
vided with discs, or plates, and Dr. Giinther says that “the 
mechanism resembles in some the adhesive organ of Jcheneis, or 
Sucking-fish, in others that of the legs of a fly.” Besides these 
discs, many Geckos have very useful and sharp retractile claws, 
which enable them to take advantage of any crevice in a wall, or 
of any roughness on the bark of a tree. Some Geckos have not 
the discs, but have instead more fully-developed claws. All 
Geckos cannot therefore climb smooth perpendicular walls or 
run along ceilings of rooms. There is also a flying Gecko (Pty- 
chozoon homalocephalum), the wing-like expansions along the sides 
of the Reptiles acting as parachutes. No Gecko, I believe, is 
more than 14in. or 15in. in length; and generally they are much 
smaller than this. 
The tail of these animals is exceedingly brittle, and parts 
company with the body upon the slightest provocation, so to 
speak; in fact, these Lizards even appear to have the power of 
throwing off their tail at will. This curious ability is often a 
means of escaping death. For instance, when pursued by an 
