

544 



Observations on a few Species of Geckos. 











[No. 5, 



their hold : for they have a clinging capability, which, when added to the 

 suction of their toe-pads, gives the animal a surprisingly powerful hold, 

 the toe-suckers acting in reality like minute air-pumps. I have lately 

 lost a beautiful specimen of the gecko toucktay, which, previously lively 

 and active, died suddenly. On a post mortem examination, I found 

 in the stomach, an oblong piece of a substance like lime, the size of a 

 marble, and as hard as a stone, and which had evidently caused its 

 death. It is possible that since so many species of the smaller geckos 

 inhabit the same place, hybrids may be of frequent occurrence ; and this 

 I have had reason to suspect in many instances : but although several 

 species of geckos may inhabit the same locality, yet, as a general rule, 

 they keep separate and aloof from each other ; for instance in a house, 

 the dark cellars may be the resort of one species, the roof of another, 

 and crevices in the walls may be occupied exclusively by a third species. 

 However, at night they issue forth in quest of insects, and may be found 

 mixed up together in the same spot, but on the slightest disturbance, 

 or when they have done feeding, they return hurriedly to their parti- 

 cular hiding-places. 



\Two eggs of a perfectly round and milk-white colour seem to be the 

 most they lay. These lie about chinks in the wall, unprotected till 

 hatched, which process takes place according to temperature and other 

 circumstances. When the eggs are first laid they are soft, and covered 

 with an adhesive glutinous substance, which causes the eggs to stick to 

 any surface, as well as frequently to each other. Shortly after the eggs are 

 laid, the shell and gluten become perfectly hard, and were it not for this 

 admirable provision of nature, these light minute eggs, would be blown 

 about by every breath of wind, and their hatching would be rendered al- 

 most an impossibility, particularly so in the localities their parents 

 intend the young to inhabit.; The power the geckos possess of in- 

 troducing themselves into minute crevices, is owing to the natural 

 flexibility of their bodies, the formation of which is depressed, and 

 covered with imbricate scales or tubercles, and frequently spines like 

 prickles, on the tail as w T ell as on the body. Femoral pores exist 

 in the males or in both sexes, but there are several species in which no 

 indication of these pores can be found. Besides the immoveable case 

 which covers the eye, and behind which the eye moves freely, there is a 

 slightly developed regular eyelid, which, from its incomplete formation, 

 gives a staring glance to the animal, for the eye is itself naturally 



