124 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 
Dussumicri, having the nape crested; and D. hematopogon, the Red- 
throated Dragon, which is without the crest. 
I11.—Dracunculus, of which five species are descrilyed—namely, 
D. quinquefasciatus, the Banded Flying Lizard, nape not crested, 
having a longitudinal fold; D. “neatus, having the nape crested, 
the ears slightly concave; D. ormatus, wings grey, reticulated with 
black, and having broad black bands at the edge; the Spotted 
Wing2d Dragon (D. maculatus), grey, and the wings black spotted; 
and D. spilopler ws, having the wing reddish near the body. ] 
GECKOTID&, OR THICK-TONGUED LIZARDS. 
This singular family of Saurians have the head wide and flattened, 
the mouth wide, the nostrils distant and lateral, the eyes large, with 
short lids ; the tongue short, fleshy, and capable of slight elongation. 
The body is thick and short, low on the legs, rather squat and 
depressed, with a belly trailing on the ground, and a back without 
crest. The skin is defended by granular scales, interlaced with others 
of a tubercular character. Almost always they are of a sombre 
colour. Their feet are short, wide apart, and robust; they are 
furnished on the upper part with imbricated lamin, which enable 
them to adhere firmly to the surface of even the smoothest bodies, 
and to run with rapidity in all directions on a plain surface, and even 
to remain stationary with the back downwards, like the common 
house fly. Their hooked and retractile claws, like those of cats, 
also assist them in climbing, crawling up trees and rocks, on which 
they will sometimes remain immovable for several hours. Their 
flexible bodies mould themselves into the depressions of the surface 
of the earth, their natural colour blending, and being confounded 
with that of the soil, they become almost invisible. ‘Their eyeballs, 
which dilate and contract considerably, protect them from the action 
of the sun’s rays, and enable them, it is thought, to see in the dark. 
They are nocturnal, avoid the sun’s light ; and catch their food in the 
chinks of rocks. Their movements are rapid, silent, and sudden. 
They hibernate, and are provided with fatty masses in the groin 
which are supposed to be a provision for their nourishment during 
that period. Geckos emit sounds which resemble the noise an 
equestrian makes when encouraging his horse. ‘This is produced by 
smacking their tongues on the palate. They frequent habitations in 
which they can find food, and are timid, inoffensive, and quite 
incapable of inflicting injury; but their repulsive appearance makes 
them objects of general repugnance, and has caused evil properties to 
