GECKOS, LIZARDS, AND CHAMELEONS 81 



Geckos is the extraordinary development of that 

 portion of the inner ear, known as the endolym- 

 phatie sac. In all animals this is concerned with 

 the work of keeping the body informed of its 

 position by the movement of certain hard bodies 

 suspended in fluid, over delicate nerve-endings. 

 In the Geckos in question this sac leaves the head, 

 and becomes stowed away in the shape of a large 

 pair of bags behind the ear, or on the sides of 

 the neck. 



Nearly all the Geckos appear to possess a 

 voice, which in some species resembles the 

 word " Gecko " hence the name by which these 

 creatures are known. A South African desert 

 species is said to congregate at times in such 

 numbeus, and to produce such a din, as to 

 make existence in the neighbourhood intoler- 

 able. The males are larger than the females. 



The smaller Geckos feed chiefly on insects, 

 but the larger forms will take anything that 

 they can manage to overpower; the smaller 

 species of lizards, mice, young rats, and even bats, 

 having been recorded among their victims. 



Of the climbing species the most remarkable 

 are the Fringed and Fimbriated Geckos. The 

 former, Ptychozoum homalocephalum, a native of 

 the Malay Islands and Archipelago, has developed 

 curious membranous expansions of skin which 

 extend down each side of the body, limbs, and 

 tail. By their means the animal is said to be 

 enabled to take flying leaps, the membranes 

 acting as a parachute. 



It does not seem to be definitely known that 

 this interpretation of the use of these folds is 

 F 



