THE GECKOES 



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peculiar in having a parachute-like expansion of skin, which is used after the man- 

 ner of that of the flying squirrels in aiding its owner to take long leaps from bough 

 to bough. When at rest, the parachute is kept close to the sides of the body by the 

 aid of its intrinsic muscles, and it is stated that this species, like several others, has 

 the power of changing its color according to the hue of the object on which it is 

 resting. The species frequenting houses may be divided into those which resort to 



WAI,!, GECKOES. 

 (Natural size.) 



the interior, and those which are content with the outside. Of the latter, Sir J. E. 

 Tennent writes that in Ceylon, "as soon as evening arrives, geckoes are to be seen 

 in every house in keen and crafty pursuit of their prey; emerging from the chinks 

 and recesses where they conceal themselves during the day, to search for insects 

 that then retire to settle for the night. In a boudoir, where the ladies of my family 

 spent their evenings, one of these familiar and amusing little creatures had its 



