CiiAP. I. LIZARDS. 17 



their strange appearance, great numbers, and variety. 

 The species which are seen crawling over the walls 

 of buildings in the city, are different from those found 

 in the forest or in the interior of houses. They are 

 unpleasant-looking animals, with colours assimilated to 

 those of the dilapidated stone and mud walls on which 

 they are seen. The house lizards belong to a peculiar 

 family, the Geckos. They are found even in the best- 

 kept houses, most frequently on the walls and ceilings : 

 they are generally motionless by day, being active only 

 at night. They are of speckled gray, or ashy colours. 

 The structure of their feet is beautifully adapted for 

 clinging to and running over smooth surfaces ; the 

 underside of their toes being expanded into cushions, 

 beneath which folds of skin form a series of flexible plates. 

 By means of this apparatus they can walk or run 

 across a smooth ceiling with their backs do^vnwards, the 

 plated soles, by quick muscular action, exhausting and 

 admitting air alternately. These Geckos are very 

 repulsive in appearance. The Brazilians give them 

 the name of Osgas, and firmly believe them to be 

 poisonous ; they are, however, harmless creatures. The 

 species found in houses are small ; I have seen others 

 of great size, in crevices of tree trunks in the forest. 

 Sometimes Geckos are found with forked tails ; this re- 

 sults from the budding of a rudimentaiy tail at the side, 

 from an injury done to the member. A slight rap will 

 cause their tails to snap off ; the loss being afterwards 

 partially repaired by a new growth. The tails of lizards 

 seem to be almost useless appendages to the animals. 

 I used often to amuse myself in the suburbs, whilst 



VOL. I, 



