74 THE LEAF-TAILED GECKO. 



This reptile is of slower habits than the generality of the Geckos, and moves along with 

 deliberate and apparently purposeless steps. It is almost invariably seen upon or near 

 decayed wood, and is frequently found under the bark of dead trees, (dinging tightly to the 

 trunk, and shielded by the bark from the unwelcome glare of daylight. In all probability, 

 it finds abundance of food in the same locality, for the space between the bark and wood 

 of a decaying or dead tree, is generally filled with insects of various kinds and in their 

 different states of existence, beside being the chosen home of millipedes, spiders, and similar 

 • creatures. 



Although a slow mover, the Cape Tarentola can, after the manner of its kin, ascend smooth 

 and perpendicular objects with perfect ease and noiseless motions, and can even traverse and 

 cling to a ceiling or a cross-beam without difficulty, and there remain motionless for hours. 

 Like the generality of the Gecko family, it detests the daylight, and the bright beams of the 

 sun are a torture to this dweller in darkness, which, if overtaken by daylight while out of 

 its refuge, crawls away to the nearest cranny and there buries itself until the evening hours 

 bring with them the desired shades, and restore the animal to its wonted activity. It is 

 extremely shy, and even in the dusk it will avoid the dangerous approach of an intruder by 

 silently slipping under the cover of the loose bark, or hiding itself among the decaying wood. 



It is quite a little creature, rarely measuring more than four inches in length, and often 

 not reaching even those moderate dimensions. As is the case with many Lizards, it is liable 

 to certain variations in coloring, but its general tints are as follows: The back and upper 

 portions of the body are yellowish -brown, with a decided yellow wash, and banded with 

 several dark brown bars, rather curved. Scattered over the body are certain protuberant 

 scales of a lighter hue. The tail is a pale brownish -purple with a reddish gloss, and speckled 

 with warm chestnut-brown. The abdomen, and the under portions of the body and limbs are 

 ochry yellow, and the eyes are, although devoid of expression and of a passionless brightness, 

 like polished stone, very shining and of a bright orange-brown. The whole form of this 

 Lizard is rather thick and clumsy. 



As this family contains at least forty genera, it is manifestly impossible to mention more 

 than a few species, winch can be accepted as types of the family, and serve as links to render 

 the chain of nature complete. Passing, therefore, several series of genera, we will give a short 

 time to one or two species of Gecko before proceeding to the next family. 



The Woodslave, as the reptile is popularly termed by the natives of the country where 

 it resides, or the Banded Sph^erodactyle (Sphceroddctylus spittdtor), as it is more scien- 

 tifically called by zoologists, is a small species of Gecko found in most of the American 

 islands, and is spread over many portions of South America ; and is held in great dread by 

 the white and dark population. It is generally supposed to possess a store of venomous saliva, 

 causing the part of the body on which it falls to swell grievously, and to eject this poisonous 

 substance from some distance upon those who chance to vex its irascible temper. The specific 

 term sputator signifies a spitter, and has been given to the reptile on account of this supposed 

 propensity. The poisonous saliva- is said to be black. 



The Woodslave has no claws on its toes, the pupil of the eye is round, and the eyelid 

 circular. The back and tail are covered with small scales. The color is generally black and 

 yellow, arranged in cross bands, and there is a white streak on each side of the head. There 

 are several species belonging to this genus, all inhabiting similar localities. 



The reader will remember that in the turnip-tailed Gecko, mentioned on page 73, the tail 

 is curiously swollen at the base after its reproduction. In the Leaf-tailed Gecko, otherwise 

 called White" s Phyllure {Phpllurus platurus), the tail is always rather long, flattened con- 

 siderably, very broad, with a deep notch at its junction with the body, and a shallower double 

 notch in the centre. Along the middle there also runs a shallow groove, and the entire aspect 

 is so quaint, not to say ludicrous, that on seeing a specimen of this odd-looking Lizard, the 

 first impression on the mind is that the tail has been cleverly manufactured and attached to 

 the body by artificial means. This Gecko is a native of New Holland, 



