SAURIA. 39 



thorize us to say, that the Gecko, as compared to other Saurians, is 

 what the Cats are to the Carnivorous Mammalia; but these nails 

 vary according to the species, and in some are entirely wanting. 



In the first and most numerous division of the Geckos, which I 

 will call the 



PLATYDACTYLI, 



The toes are widened throughout, and covered beneath with trans- 

 verse scales. 



Some have no vestige of a nail, and their thumbs are very small. 

 They are beautiful species, completely covered with tubercles, and 

 painted with the most lively colours. Those known are from the 

 Isle of France. 



In others, the femoral pores are deficient.(l) 



One of them, G, inunguis, Cuv. is violet above, white beneath, 

 with a black line on the flank. Another, G. ocellatus, Oppel. 

 is grey, completely covered with ocellated brown spots with a 

 white centre. 



In some again these pores are very strongly marked. (2) Such 

 is the Gecho cepedien, Peron, of the Isle of France; pale yellow, 

 marbled with blue; a white line along each flank. 



I am not sure, however, that the pores in this first subgenus 

 are not sexual indications. 

 Other Platydactyli have no nail to their thumb, nor to the second 

 and fifth toes of all the feet; the femoral pores are also deficient.(3) 

 Such is, 



Gecko fascicularis, Daud. Lacert. facetanus, Aldrov. 654, Ta- 

 rente of Provence; Tarentola^ or rather Terrentola of the Ita- 

 lians; Stellio of the ancient Latins; Geckotle, Lacep. A dark 

 grey; rough head; the whole upper surface of the body studded 

 with tubercles, each of which consists of three or four smaller 

 ones; the scales on the under part of the tail similar to those on 

 the belly. It is a hideous animal, which hides in holes of walls, 

 heaps of stones. Sec, covering its body with dust and filth. The 

 same species appears to exist every where about the Mediterra- 

 nean, and in Provence and Languedoc. 



There is a neighbouring species in Egypt and in Barbary, 



(1) M. Gray appropriates the name of Platydactylus to this division. 



(2) It is from this division that M. Gray has made his genus Phelsunut; the La- 

 certa gietje of Sparm. should belong to it. They are considered very venomous at 

 the Cape. 



(3) This division forms the genus Tarentola of Gray. 



