' TH^ WO OX) SLAVER. i6i 



green of trees, their bark, &c. where it lies concealed by its clofe fimi- 

 larity. 



Lays nine to twelve eggs, oval and of fupple Hiell. Inhabits all hoc 

 countries, Mexico, Africa, Ceylon, &c. On the banks of the Sc 

 negal, and the Gambia, is the obje(5t of veneration : the Negroes do not 

 kill them ; but when they are dead they cat them. There are fome fmall 

 variations (principally on the head) among chemi but in general the race 

 is pretty uniform. 



THE WOOD SLAVER, or SPUTATOR, 



IS a lizard of two inches long, of which the tail is halfj whitifh under 

 the belly, grey on the body : ftriped croffwifc with d?ep brown ; four 

 bands of this deep colour crofs the head and backj another fmaller bor- 

 ders the upper j^w; fix others form lo many rings round the tail. 

 There is no apparent opening for the ears: the tongue is broad, flat, and 

 a little divided at the extremity: black fpots on the fummit of the head, 

 and the muzzle ; the feet are varied with grey, black, and white j five 

 toes to each foot; fcaly beneath, terminating in a kind of ball or fcaly 

 (hell, without any fenfible nail. Inhabits the hot countries of America, 

 in houfes, and carpenters' yards j hurts nobody, if not difturbed j but muft 

 be infpefled with caution, as he is cafily irritated. He runs along the 

 walU, and if frightened he gets as near as he can to his enemy, and 

 ejefts againft him a kind of black fpittle, fo venomous, that a drop of 

 it fwells the part on which it falls ; the fwelling is cured by camphorated 

 fpirit of wine or brandy, which is ufed in America againft the fting of 

 icorpions ; this fpittle may be feen gathering in the corners of the crea- 

 ture's mouth fometimcs, when he is angry. Seldom quits his hole but by 

 day. 



I 



THE GECKO 



S among the moft extraordinary animals, by the general diffufion of its 



venom. In form, has a flight refemblanct to the cameleon; his head 



Part V. No. 2S. U% almofl: 



