GECKONIDAE 509 



Southern Portugal and Spain to Karachi. Like PJiyllodactylus 

 and various other kinds of Geckos, the body is semi-transparent ; 

 so much so indeed that the white eggs shimmer through the body 

 in certain lights. 



Tarentola mauritanica s. Platydactylus facetanus. — The digits 

 are strongly dilated, with undivided lamellae below, and a flat, 

 nail-like scute on their upper surface near the tip. Only the 

 third and fourth digits are clawed. Femoral or pre-anal pores 

 are absent. The upper parts are covered with scales and 

 granules, and bear several longitudinal rows of strongly keeled, 

 large tubercles ; the under parts have hexagonal scales. General 

 colour above greyish-brown, with darker or lighter markings ; 

 with a dark streak through the eye. Total length of large males 

 about 6 inches. This species is one of the commonest Geckos 

 in the Southern Mediterranean coimtries. In Portugal it extends 

 northwards to the Douro. It has been introduced by ships into 

 the ports of Cette, Toulon, and Marseilles. It is easily kept in 

 captivity, like most Geckos indeed, provided they are supplied 

 with a variety of insect-food, water in the shape of drops, and 

 suitable places to hide in. A female, which I had received from 

 Algiers in a little tin box, with a lump of meat (presumably its 

 food !), laid two eggs six weeks after its arrival. This was 

 towards the end of April. Towards the end of June in the 

 same year it again laid two eggs, measuring 13 X 10 mm. 

 Another specimen laid in June in two successive years. These 

 and other Geckos live very well in a greenhouse, or in a large 

 glass cage. They change colour most adaptively. They hunt 

 preferably at night for insects, which are stalked and then 

 suddenly rushed at. Drops of water are taken by a lapping 

 motion of the tongue. For sleeping-places they selected bits of 

 hollow bamboo, but these had to be vacated when some tree- 

 frogs crept into them for the daytime, and the Geckos took to 

 some curved pieces of bark, on the under side of which they 

 slept, with their backs downwards. This is, by the way, a 

 favourite position of rest of most Geckos. But Stenodactylus 

 guttaUis of Egypt lies flat on its belly, tucks the fore-feet under 

 and inwards like a cat, rests the head upon them, and stretches 

 the hind-limbs out backwards. The little Geckos are rather 

 intelligent. They take no notice of a finger put against the 

 other side of the glass to which they happen to cling; but 



