1864.] Observations on a few Species of Geckos. 543 



by the pure white appearance of this cast off coat, seize and eat it. The 

 skin is of a pure white, beautifully netted and marked, strongly resembling 

 that of snakes. No sooner is the skin cast off, than the little creature 

 becomes quite lively again. A touchtay which I had, commenced 

 casting its skin in one of my boxes, two or three days after its cap- 

 ture ; on the third clay the skin cracked and as usual began to peel off. 

 •On this occasion, it was nearly a week getting rid of its skin, but for 

 all that, I do not think it was in any way weakened by the operation, 

 as might reasonably be expected from the animal's sluggishness and 

 refusal of all food. I have/observed that geckos on touching shining or 

 polished surfaces, invariably lick them with their tongues, probably 

 mistaking them for water, but the gecko chameleon does the same to 

 the small shining particles of sand. ) 



The contraction of the eye of these lizards is remarkably cat-like, 

 but in gecko toucktay, it is more remarkable than in any other, from 

 the peculiar greenish hue of the iris, which is so markedly different 

 from the brass bronze lustre, or brown hues of the smaller species. 

 When the mouth of the touchtay is open, it is truly hideous, the inside 

 appearing like a deep pink cavern, with the palate black. Although 

 this is equally descriptive of the smaller lizards, it is most striking 

 in the larger ones. Although the gecko touchtay is vicious and 

 furious, it soon becomes reconciled to confinement, and does not 

 attack or bite others of the same species, ) when put into the same 

 box. This huge gecko adheres to a wall, or the perpendicular surface 

 of a pane of glass, as firmly and as securely as the smaller animals, 

 and is almost more tenacious of its hold, requiring a strong shove 

 or even stroke to knock it off a wall : .during the day this animal 

 adheres to a wall or tree with his head downwards, or frequently hangs 

 by his hind feet, with the head down and the front feet clasped to- 

 gether. 



Other saurians may in a great measure be able to cling to, and ascend 

 vertical surfaces, but the power of adhering to such places like a fly, 

 with suckers, and to traverse ceilings with the greatest facility and 

 rapidity, where no other lizard dare venture, belongs exclusively to 

 the gecko. This is effected by means of their flattened and ex- 

 panded toes, which are transversely laminated beneath, or furnished 

 with powerful imbricated suckers ; and by its claws, which are sharp- 

 hooked and retractile) like a cat's, and greatly assist the suckers in 



