152 THE STORY OF REPTILE LIFE. 



from a specimen now (1903) living in the 

 Gardens of the Zoological Society, it would 

 seem, from the large size of the eyes, and its 

 custom of lying absolutely motionless along a 

 branch, that this creature is crepuscular in its 

 habits. 



In a wild state, doubtless, the day is passed 

 stretched motionless along a bough, and abso- 

 lutely secure from detection. The resemblance 

 to the bough is still further enhanced partly by 

 the curious disposition of the limbs, which are 

 thrust out at odd angles from the body, and 

 partly owing to narrow fringes of skin, extend- 

 ing from the side of the lower jaw backwards to 

 the tail, where they suddenly expand into broad 

 folds. By this means the outline of the body is 

 obliterated passing insensibly into that of the 

 bough. 



Contrasting in the strangest possible manner 

 with this is another Gecko (Phelesuma Madagas- 

 cariensis) also hailing from Madagascar. This 

 animal is of a rich, verdigris green, enlivened with 

 bright vermilion red spots in the middle of the 

 back, and a Y-shaped red bar on the crown of 

 the head. Little appears to be known about the 

 habits of this animal, but there can be no doubt 

 but that, unlike its relative, it hunts by day. 

 Its small eyes and green colour proclaim this. 

 These eyes, by the way, differ remarkably from 

 those of the species just described, inasmuch as 

 they are red in colour, and have a round pupil. 

 In the Fimbriated Gecko they are of a beautiful 

 golden yellow, streaked with vertical lines of 

 chestnut, and the pupil is vertical, by day appear- 



