80 THE STORY OF REPTILE LIFE. 



One of the most remarkable features of this 

 sub-family is the peculiar modification which the 

 foot of the climbing species has undergone. 

 Herein the under-surface of the toes has de- 

 veloped a series of plates, which serve as 

 adhesive pads, wherewith the animal is en- 

 abled to climb, not only trees, and the 

 smooth faces of rocks, but even the polished 

 vertical surface of a window-pane ; or, stranger 

 still, to run along the ceiling with the ease 

 and security of a fly. The pressure of the 

 foot causes the plates to spread out, and 

 driving out the air between the plates, to form 

 a vacuum. Long claws, more or less perfectly 

 retractile, complete the armament of this re- 

 markable organ. Dr Gadow remarks, anent the 

 wonderful climbing powers of these creatures : 

 "Those which take up their abode inside a 

 house become almost domesticated. They are 

 strange sights when hunting for flies running 

 up and down the papered walls ; but we fairly 

 gasp when they come to the upper corner, 

 calmly bend over, and with the next jerk 

 slide along the whitewashed ceiling. We are 

 accustomed to flies performing such feats, but 

 at animals five inches long, supple and fat, we 

 are inclined to draw the line. However, that 

 is the way of the Geckos, and be it confessed 

 the more we ponder over the mechanism of 

 their fingers and toes, the less we comprehend 

 how such little vacua can support or suspend 

 such heavy creatures from a dry and often 

 porous surface." 



Yet another remarkable feature of the climbing 



