878 



VERT Eli 11 AT A. 



iiiid is fomiil ill .Mi'.\i««>, win to it is coiisidcreil venomous, tliouirli this is an error. It is the only 

 animal of tiiis family foiiiul in AnuTica. Dr. <;ray arranges it ia a separate family, to which he 

 jrivrs the nauH- t^f J/ilddninii/u: 



Tli.Ti' arc t.llicr spi-ric's of \'aranidio in Europe, Asiji, Afrlia. ami Australia, which frequent 

 ilrv ami sjimlv places. The Psammosaurus scincus is found in the deserts of Egypt, and is sup- 

 pi)sed to be the skiiik of the ancient-s. 





THE WALL GECKO. 



THE GECKOTID^. 



These, as well as the succeeding famihes are called Thicfc-longued Lizards. Of the present 

 group there are a great many species, distributed in various parts of the world. They have the 

 eyes large and the legs short and terminated by five nearly equal toes ; these are destitute 

 of claws, but they are furnished beneath with a peculiar apparatus for clinging, very similar in 

 its action to that by which many insects are enabled to walk upon polished perpendicular sur- 

 faces. The lower part of each toe is dilated, forming a sort of disc, the inferior surface of which 

 is composed of numerous transverse, notched laminaj, between which a sticky fluid exudes. By 

 means of this apparatus the Geckos are enabled to run up a perpendicular w-all with great facility, 

 and even to cross a ceiling with their backs downward, a power which, no doubt, assists them 

 greatly in the capture of the flies and other insects which constitute their principal food. They 

 are nocturnal animals, and very active, moving about with great rapidity, but without the least 

 sound. They are very abundant in warm climates, especially in Southern Asia. They are gener- 

 ally of a repulsive appearance, and this is no doubt the reason why many of the species are con- 

 sidered venomous, though erroneously so, by the inhabitants of the countries where they are found. 



Genus PLATYDACTYLUS : F fat >/dact7/lus.— This includes the Wall Gecko, P. muraUs— 

 one of the species known in the south of Europe, and inhabiting all the countries bordering on 

 the Mediterranean. It is about six inches long, and receives its specific name from living in 

 the walls of old buildings. The term Gecko is said to be derived from the note of one of the 

 species. 



Genus THECADACTYLUS : Tkecadactijlus.— This includes the Croakixg Lizard of the 

 West Indies, T. loevis, which frequents the sugar-boiling houses, reposing during the day upon 

 the raftei-s. It is generally considered venomous, but this is undoubtedly a result of its repulsive 

 appearance. 



