graceful form and action, and its bird-like motions, 

 with any other feeling than admiration. 



As he walks along the roads and lanes that divide 

 the properties, he will perceive at every turn the 

 smooth and trim little figures of the Wood-slaves 

 {Mahouya agilis) basking on the loose stones of the 

 dry-walls ; their glossy fish-like scales glistening in 

 the sun with metallic brilliance. They lie as still as 

 if asleep ; but on the intruder's approach they are 

 ready in a moment to dart into the crevices of the 

 stones, and disappear until the danger is past. 



If he looks into the outbuildings of the estates, 

 the mill-house, or the boiling- house, or the cattle- 

 sheds, a singular croaking sound above his head 

 causes him to look up ; and then he sees clinging to 

 the rafters, or crawling sluggishly along with the back 

 downward, three or four Lizards, of form, colour, and 

 action very diverse from those he has seen before. 

 It is the Gecko, or Croaking Lizard ( Thecadactylus 

 IcBvis), a nocturnal animal in its chief activity, but 

 always to be seen in these places, or in hollow 

 trees, even by day. Its appearance is repulsive, I 

 allow, but its reputation for venom is libellous and 

 groundless. 



The stranger walks into the dwelling-house. 

 Lizards, lizards, still meet his eye. The little 

 Ancles [A. iodurus, A. opalinus, &c.) are chasing 

 each other in and out between the jalousies, now 

 stopping to protrude from the throat a broad disk of 

 brilliant colour, crimson or orange, like the petal of 

 a flower, then withdrawing it, and again display- 

 ing it in coquettish play. Then one leaps a yard 



