Chap. Ill ] CHAMELEON. 185 



to be sometimes asleep whilst the other is vigilant and 

 active : one ^vill assume a green tinge whilst the opposite 

 one is red ; and it is said that the chameleon is utterly 

 unable to swim, from the incapacity of the muscles of 

 the two sides to act in concert. 



Ceratojjhora. — A unique lizard, and hitherto known 

 only by two specimens, one in the British Museum, 

 and another in that of Leydeu, is the Cerato-phora 

 Stoddartii^ distinguished by the pecuharity of its having 

 no external ear, whilst its muzzle bears on its extremity 

 the horn-hke process from which it takes its name. 

 It has recently been discovered by Dr. Kelaart to be a 

 native of the higher Kandyan hills, where it is sometimes 

 seen in the older trees in pursuit of sect larva3.^ 



Geckoes. — But the most famihar and attractive of the 

 class are the Geckoes'^., which fr"equent the sitting-rooms, 

 and being fiu-iiished with pads to each toe, are enabled 

 to ascend perpendicular walls and adhere to glass 

 and ceihngs. Being nocturnal in their habits, the pupil 

 of the eye, instead of being circular as m the diurnal 

 species, is hnear and vertical hke those of the cat. As 

 soon as evening arrives, they emerge from the chinks 

 and recesses where they conceal themselves during the 

 day, in search of insects which retire to settle for the 

 night, and are to be seen in every house in keen and 

 crafty pursuit of their prey. In a boudoir where the 

 ladies of my family spent their evenings, one of these 

 famihar and amusing httle creatures had its hiding-place 

 behhid a gilt picture frame, and punctually as the candles 

 were hghted, it made its appearance on the waU to be 

 fed with its accustomed crumb ; and, if neglected, it re- 

 iterated its sharp quick caU of chic, chic, chit, till attended 

 to. It was of a dehcate grey colour, tinged with pink ; 

 and ha\dng by accident fallen on a work-table, it fled, 

 leaving its tail behind it, wliich, however, it repro- 



^ Dr. Kelaart has likewise dis- I ^ Hemidactyliis macidatuS; Dxin. 



covered at Xeuera-ellia a Saka, dis- 

 tiuct fi-om tlie S. Jerdoni. 



et liib., Gi'ay ; II. Lescheuaultii, 

 Dinu. et Uib. ; II. frenatus^ Schkr/eL 



