LIZARDS 55 



captivity in this country. The digits are strongly dilated 

 and provided with a large, flat scute on the upper surface 

 near the tip, shaped like a nail. The upper surface of the 

 body, w^hich is grey or brown in colour, as well as the 

 limbs and tail, are covered with granules of unequal size, 

 intermixed with large tubercular scales arranged symmetri- 

 cally on the back and tail. 



Large numbers of Delalande's Gecko are constantly 

 being sent to the Zoological Gardens from greengrocers' 

 shops, the lizards being brought over from the Canary 

 Islands concealed in bunches of bananas. They have a 

 remarkable facility for discarding their caudal appendage 

 when seized, and specimens with perfect tails are rarities. 



The Verticillated Gecko, Gecko verticillatus, one of 

 the largest known, reaching over a foot in length, is 

 common in Eastern Bengal, Southern China, and the Malay 

 Peninsula and Archipelago, frequenting the trees in the 

 jungle, and occasionally entering houses. It is a remarkably 

 handsome creature, being light blue or slate grey in colour 

 above, with numerous round orange or red spots ; the 

 under-surface is whitish, variegated with grey. The digits, 

 which are large, are dilated and free. 



It is known to the natives by the name of Tokay, 

 expressive of its call, which it utters many times in rapid 

 succession, usually seven or eight times, sometimes, how- 

 ever, as many as eleven. It feeds not only on insects, 

 but also on lizards and mice, and is even said to take young 

 birds from the nest. 



The Flying Geckos of the genus Phychozoon, also 

 inhabiting the Malay Peninsula and Archipelago, reaching 

 a length of eight inches, are so called on account of their 



