NO. 2224. NOTES ON HAWAIIAN LIZARDS— SNYDER. 21 



trees both in the color and roughness of the skin, are apt to be over- 

 looked. Hemidactylus garnotii, for example, is well protected in 

 this way, and moreover it seems to be possessed of keen vision, is 

 cautious of danger, and swift in flight, frequently gliding hke a flash 

 from among other geckos which remain undisturbed at the approach 

 of danger. 



Many individuals of L. lugubris were often found huddled together 

 in a small crevice where they were not exposed to direct light. In 

 such cases they might be carefully removed with the forceps, \mtil 

 the number was considerably reduced, when those remammg would 

 suddenly take fright and scatter in every direction. It was not only 

 common to find them thus assembled in favorite crannies, but they 

 were also frequently gathered in communities. For mstance, every 

 available crack in a particular part of an old board fence was occupied, 

 while other sections of the same fence offering accommodations 

 which to the observer appeared equally suitable sheltered very few 

 individuals. Moreover, when the crevices of such a community were 

 completely depopulated, it was found that after a short time they 

 were recolonized. One such case will serve to illustrate. One hun- 

 dred and forty mdividuals were taken from a portion of a fence. 

 Each crevice was carefuUy examined and the lizards removed, very 

 few escaping. After a lapse of 21 days the same place was again 

 visited and 110 specimens found. These were all adults. Other 

 experiments proved that the same individuals did not always retire 

 to the same place on consecutive days, and it was also seen that 

 members of different species often pass the day together in the same 

 little den. In one instance eggs of three forms, with embryos in 

 about the same stage of development, were found in one place to- 

 gether with adult individuals of two species. 



Geckos are easily caught with long forceps, the instrument being 

 useful in extracting them from the depths of cracks. When an 

 individual found itself pursued with the forceps it either precipitately 

 left its retreat or darted down to the innermost corner, where it 

 remained perfectly motionless. If fm-ther troubled it usually moved 

 the tail forth and back, often thrashing it with some violence. In 

 one instance an excited individual slowly backed outward from the 

 depths of its retreat, actually presenting the wriggling tail in the 

 direction of danger. Wlien seized the tail parted from the body, 

 upon which the gecko instantly crouched down and remained mo- 

 tionless as if expecting the accepted offering to appease the enemy. 

 Opportunity to repeat the observation was offered, and it became 

 quite evident that individuals of the species when (h-iven into close 

 quarters insthictively offer a part of their bodies that they may 

 escape with their lives. The tails reproduce quickly, and the indi- 

 vidual is thus soon prepared for another encounter. Nothing was 

 learned of the enemies of the geckos. 



