iSz OVIPAROUS QJJADRUPEDS. 



almofl: triangular; is large in proportion to his body j his eyes large, tongue 

 flat, covered with fmall Tcales, and the top indented ; teeth Iharp, ^nd 

 fo ftrong, fays Bontius, that they make im pre flions on the hardeft fub- 

 ftances, even fteel. This animal is entirely covered with little warts, 

 more or lefs rifing ; beneath the thighs is a row of tubercles, elevated and 

 hollow : the feet are remarkable by oval fcaies, more or lefs indented in 

 the middle, as large as the furface of the toes, regularly difpofed one 

 over another, like the flares upon houfes : has nails to all its toes except 

 the firft. The tail longer than the body, covered with rows of fcaly 

 rings. General colour clear green, ^£2t£ed with fcarlet ; his name imi- 

 tiates his cry, efpecially when rain "is expe^ecl. Found in Egypt, In- 

 dia, Amboyna, the Moliicca Ifles. Hides in half rotten trees, and hu- 

 mid places; fometimes vifits houfes, where he fpreads general confter- 

 nation, and is quickly deftroyed. Bontius aflerts, his bite is fo vcno- 



. mous, that unlefs the part wounded be cut off, or burnt, it is mortal in a 

 few hours. The touch of his feet is very dangerous, and is faid by fomc 

 to poifon provifionson which he walks. Some think this proceeds from 

 his urine, which is very corrofive ; others, that it is a fweat proceeding 

 rfrom the hollow tubercles beneath hjs thighs ; his blood, and a kind of 

 foam which flarts from his mouth, when angry, are confidered as mortal 

 venoms, and furnifh the inhabitants of Java a poifon for their arrows. 



.".Hass ELQjJi ST affirms, that the feet dcpofit a poifon; that the creature 

 is fond of fubftances impregnated with fait, and, by walking over them, 

 leaves behind him a dangerous poifon. He faw at Cairo three women 

 nearly killed, by having eaten cheefe lately faked, on which the Gecko, 

 had depofited his poifon. . He faw alfo one of thefe lizards run over the 

 hands of a man who endeavoured to take him : where he had trodden, wa$ 

 covered with little puftules, rednefs, heat, and fome pain, like nettlc- 

 ftings. It may be that this quality varies according to climate, feafon, 



~.;4^c. In the night this lizard croaks fomewhat like a frog, which dif- 



* covers his approach. After rain, he comes out of his retreat; walks 

 flowly ; eats ants and worms. The female lays oval eggs; covers "them 

 fomewhat with earth, and the fun hatches them. Is fuppofed to be the 

 To ck ate o( Shm. Exceeds a foot in length. 



There are one or two other lizards 'not unlike this in form ; but whether 

 in manners alfo, accounts have not determined. 



7 THE 



