I a oe 
1923. ] Adhesive Pads of Gecko, etc. 141 
was lifted vertically upwards or was drawn forwards very 
little adhesive power was apparent in these structures. 
(8) A dead Gecko with all its claws removed could be 
made to adhere to a vertical, smooth surface even with 
the help of the digital discs of one foot. But when the 
cuticular layer bearing setose processes was removed from the 
lamellae of a foot, it lost its adhesive properties to a very great 
extent, 
Even from a cursory perusal of the above observations 
it is clear that in the foot of the Gecko there are two distinct 
types of clinging organs, (1) the claws are functional when 
the animal progresses or hangs from a rough surface, and 
(2) the digital pads help the animal in climbing smooth vertical 
surfaces. The fact that a Gecko with all its claws removed 
can run up a smooth vertical surface just as easily and 
efficiently as with the claws, and that the same animal cannot 
climb up a brick wall clearly proves my contention. The 
grasping power of the claws is too well known among lizards 
0 need any discussion here. It is with the action an 
function of the pads that we are chiefly concerned. It may, 
however, be pointed out that both types of clinging organs 
found on the foot of the Gecko are in constant use, but the 
relative efficiency and usefulness of each depends upon the 
nature of the opposing surface. It follows from the above 
argument that when a Gecko sticks to a surface which is 
ceiling is not really so smooth as a piece of glass is. 
clear from the above observations that such a feat is only 
seems to be fairly risky on the part of the animal. — 
matter of ever i 
touch the floor after a fall than it runs away, apparently 
none the worse. I have never seen a Gecko fall when climb- 
one fell from the ceiling on to the floor. Let us now pass on 
