3- Body compressed, covered with imbricate scales. 

 Crests are often present. Acrodont 5 tongue short, 



slightly incised anteriorly (fig. i.j>) Agamidae^ p. 66. 



4. Upper surface tubercular; anterior portion of 



tongue smooth, bifid, protractile Helodermatidae, p. 



. Head with large symmetrical shields. 

 Body vermiform 5 anterior portion of tongue retractile 



(fig. I. (5") Anguidae^ p. 139. 



B. Tongue long, deeply bifid, retractile into a sheath at 



the base (fig. 1.4). Head covered with small scales. Varanidae^ p. 141. 



C. Tongue covered with short imbricate papillae (fig. I. <5), 

 or oblique folds (fig. i.j", 7). Head with large sym- 

 metrical shields. 



a. Eyes exposed. 



1. Ventral scales differing from dorsals; femoral or 



inguinal pores present Lacertidae, p. 153. 



2. Body covered with uniform cycloid, imbricate 



scales; no femoral or praeanal pores Scincidae^ p. 156. 



b. Eyes covered by the skin ; body vermiform .... Dibamidae^ p. 282. 



137- 



i. Fam. GECKONIDAE. 



Body usually depressed, covered 

 above with small scales or granules 

 often intermixed with tubercles; head 

 without large symmetrical shields. 

 Tongue short, feebly bifid anteriorly, 

 smooth or with long papillae (fig. 1.7); 

 pleurodont. Eye large, with vertical 

 pupil (Gonatodes has a round pupil) 

 and without movable eyelids (except 

 in Aeluroscalabotes), Ear distinct. 

 Limbs well developed, digits strong, 

 often dilated and used for climbing 

 smooth surfaces. Femoral or praeanal 

 pores often present, in the males 

 only. Tail very fragile. Most of them 

 are nocturnal. The eggs are round 

 or oval (fig. 2) and have a hard 

 whitish shell. 



Fig. 2. Eggs of Geckonidae. 



1. Ptychozoon homalocephaium 



(Crev.). 



2. Gecko vertitillatus Laur. 



j. Hemidactylus frenatus D. B. 



