82 THE STORY OF REPTILE LIFE. 



correct. More probably they are only part of a 

 general protective disguise, the folds being applied 

 to the surface of the trees so as to effectually 

 blend the body with its surroundings, and thus 

 bring about invisibility. The plausibility of this 

 view will impress every one who has had an oppor- 

 tunity of watching the Fimbriated Gecko (Uro- 

 vlates fimbrialus) now living (1903) in the Gardens 

 of the Zoological Society in London. The remark- 

 able way in which this extraordinary creature 

 harmonises with the branch on which it rests, is 

 one of the first things that rivets the attention. 

 This harmony is partly due to the coloration of 

 the animal, which is of a dark grey, almost black, 

 but relieved by large, irregular blotches of lichen 

 colour; and partly to the presence of a short 

 ragged fringe which extends along on each side 

 of the body as far as the base of the tail, where 

 it is replaced by broad lobes. When the animal 

 is at rest the body is pressed flat against the 

 bough, so that the fringe along the flanks, and 

 the lobes of the tail completely obscure the 

 general outline. To make the disguise more 

 complete the hind legs are placed in what one 

 might be pardoned for calling an unnatural 

 position. Thus the right leg will be directed 

 forwards, the left stretched backwards in a 

 straight line parallel with the tail. Even in 

 confinement, exposed in a glass case with pur- 

 posely unsuitable background, and within a foot 

 of the observer, this creature is almost invisible. 

 Indeed, but for its remarkable eye, it is probable 

 that its presence would be discovered only by 

 the merest accident. This, the most conspicuous 



