The Geckos 



Total Length 3 inches. 



Length of Tail i 



Width of Body J> " 



Width of Head ^ " 



Distribution. Appears to be restricted to Texas, New 

 Mexico, Arizona and California. It is rather abundant. 



Habits. Both the spotted and the banded forms occur in 

 the same localities. The animal is rather nocturnal and may 

 be found issuing from among loose stones or from cavities in 

 the rocks about twilight. Its movements are fairly active, 

 but seem slow when compared with the swifts and the "race- 

 runners" or other lacertilians with long, powerful limbs. The 

 food consists of small insects, carefully stalked, then taken by 

 a rush. When caught, these creatures emit a faint, squealing 

 sound, something like that produced by certain beetles (the 

 "longhorns") when held in the fingers. 



A number of specimens from Tucson, Arizona, were very 

 sluggish, unless disturbed, when they appeared quite anxious 

 to bite one's fingers, turning the head upon the side and opening 

 the mouth widely, which position would be maintained for about 

 ten seconds. 



Several letters are at hand warning the writer of the very 

 poisonous nature of this lizard. It seems that over a considerable 

 portion of the distribution, the species is thought to be more 

 dangerous than a poisonous serpent. This is a curious fallacy, 

 for the lizard is in every way harmless. Its bright colours have 

 possibly excited the idea of venomous properties. 





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