540 



Observations on a few Species of GecJcos. 



[No, 5, 



it often happens that the renewed tail is deformed, either by being 

 thicker at the junction, or, in many instances, by several tails branching 

 off from that one spot. 



The toe-pads or suckers are a perpetual source of care and attention 

 to these little animals, who constantly keep licking them with their 

 fleshy tongues, and removing all impediments to their adhesiveness ; 

 this takes place from the moment they are caught ; the mere 

 act of catching them appears to derange, in some measure, the 

 regularity of their suckers ; for when first captured, the animal remains 

 perfectly quiet, as if astonished or paralysed, but on recovering 

 from the effects of his surprise, he licks his pads, examining them 

 minutely, and struggles violently to escape, and even endeavours to 

 bite his captor ; which latter, should he succeed in doing, is of but 

 little consequence, as his bite is not in any way venomous. 



The Gecko toucktay is considered by the Burmese, to be poisonous, 

 though unfoundedly; and therefore this harmless lizard is looked 

 upon with dread and alarm, though, strange to say, his startling 

 and somewhat unearthly call, uttered on a dark still night, from 

 some densely wooded spot, or interior of a house, creates little or 

 no annoyance. The call of the toucktay is a frequent repetition of 

 the word c touck tay,' uttered in a hoarse sonorous and loud tone, re- 

 peated five or six times, and ending in a suppressed groan, as if his 

 efforts were entirely exhausted. 



Though some few geckos are more or less furnished with an 

 interdigital membrane, bearing the appearance of a swimming web, 

 I have never seen them voluntarily take to the water, but they 

 confine themselves to trees, rocks and houses. It is possible, how- 

 ever, that during heavy rains, when water accumulates in different 

 places, these animals may have to swim in order to save their lives, 

 in which case these membranes must materially assist them in so 

 doing, 



Geckos preserved and sent to museums in spirits for scientific purposes, 

 undoubtedly answer all that is required for the examination of their 

 structure, but as most of them have the power of changing their colour, 

 and as in many instances preserved specimens lose some of their peculi- 

 arities, I find that to study and form an idea of the habits of these little 

 creatures, it is necessary to examine and watch them in their living state, 

 when they will be found to afford a highly interesting study, very astonish- 



