THE SMOOTH SHEATH-CLAW. 181 



faces, has been often described. The toes in this 

 species radiate from the foot, are dilated into broad 

 oval disks, and have the under surface covered with 

 transverse laminae, the edge of each overlapping its 

 successor. Minute hooked claws, very acute, like 

 those of a cat, doubtless assist the animal in its feats 

 of this kind. I do not, however, remember to have 

 ever seen this Gecko actually back downward, but 

 often crawling on the vertical side of a beam. 



The skin of this animal is very loosely attached to 

 the muscles ; and is so soft and fragile that it tears 

 with a mere touch, like wetted brown paper. The 

 head and back are covered with minute conical 

 tubercles very closely set, which, on the sides and 

 towards the tail, become morejnclined, and flattened 

 in a posterior direction, so as to form overlapping 

 scales, which are most regular and largest on the belly 

 and tail ; each is in contact with six other surround- 

 ing ones. The under side of the tail is crossed by a 

 series of broad plates, here and there varied, however, 

 by two broad scales supplying the place of one plate. 

 The tail has no transverse folds, but the scales are 

 aiTanged with regularity there. I have not been able 

 to detect any femoral pores. 



The periodical casting of the skin takes place much 

 as in other Lizards. The head and fore parts begin 

 to assume a white appearance, and the next day the 

 skin of these parts separates from the surface of the 

 body, often irregularly, and lies in loose ragged folds 

 around it. It now looks like muslin of the most 

 delicate fineness : it is slit down the back and sepa- 

 rated, but not yet thrown off. At the same time the 



