REPTILES, 275 



Teetli minute, and close set. 



The animals of this group differ from those of the pre- 

 ceding, in having a depressed form and nocturnal habits. 

 They are known by their eastern name, Gecko. 



16. ASCALABOTES. M. CuviER has subdivided this 

 genus into four groups, all of which appear to be susceptible 

 of farther division, from marked characters. In some, the 

 disk of the sucker extends over the whole under-surface of 

 the toes, and is either grooved, as the thecadactyles, or plain 

 as i\ie platydactyles. In others, the sucker is towards the 

 base of the toes, as the hemidactyles, or near the extremity, 

 as the ptyodactyles. The S.Jimbriatus, in the last of these 

 groups, has the toes half webbed, and an expanse of mem- 

 brane at the side of the tail *. 



(B.) Feet destitute of suckers. 

 1. Toes, in part, united by a common integument 

 This group includes the Crocodiles, the largest of the 

 reptiles. The scales are large, and many of them are longi- 

 tudinally carinated. The tail is compressed, with a crest 

 above, which is double at the base. The toes are five be- 

 fore, and four behind, the three inner ones, only, on each 

 foot armed with claws. They have no clavicular bones. The 

 external ear is capable of being closed by two fleshy lips. 

 The jaws are each furnished with a row of strong teeth, 

 some of which are produced beyond the others in the lower 

 jaw. The vent is longitudinal, while in the other lacertine 

 tribes it is transverse. The external organ of the male is 



M. CUVIER has added to this group the Stellio phyllurus from New 

 Holland, which is destitute of suckers. Its true place in the system is not 

 satisfactorily determined. 



