370 



THE ANIMALS OP NEW ZEALAND 



Oceanic Gecko. 



rVoii. Coqunh'.) 



Genus Xaultinus. 



Toes feebly dilated, gradually narrowing-, with a series of 

 transverse lanielliT under their entire length. Colour green. New 

 Zealand only. 



The green geckos live on shrubs and in open fern land. They 

 hybernate in the winter, from June to September, six or seven 

 being huddled together. They are viviparous, bringing forth 

 from one to three, usually two, young ones at a time, between 

 July and September. In the summer they east their skin several 

 times. 



They feed upon insects, and are very abstemious. Mr. Colenso, 

 who kept several alive for more than a year, found that feeding 

 them with flies twice a week was quite sufficient. He says : 

 ''Their manner of taking their prey is peculiar. When the lizard 

 clearly sees the fly, and makes sure it is living, it steals towards 

 it in the most stealthy manner. As it nears the fly, and when 

 within two inches, then is the time to watch closely its actions. 

 First it arches its neck to a tolerably sharp angle, and its eyes 

 swell and bulge out, or rather upwards, over their orbits, and the 

 expression of its countenance alters greatly, taking on a fierce 



