Observations on a few Species of Geckos. 



545 



1864.] 



very large, full and bright. The orifices of the ears are on the side of 

 the head, with the membrane of the tympanum much depressed. 



I have already said that in my classification of the living geckos in 

 my collection, I should simply adopt the genus Gecko in preference to the 

 acknowledged genera, hut as this may not he satisfactory to others, I 

 will here briefly classify the geckoid saurians. Their position in the 

 zoological series is in the second section (haplapnoa) of the class r&ptilia ; 

 in the order saurii, tribe squamati, and family ascalohotce. This family, 

 in my opinion, admits of only one genus, Gecko, but owing to the 

 structure of the feet, the toe-suckers of which vary considerably in 

 form, and are quite a study in themselves, the geckos have been divided 

 into several genera, the principal of which I shall here enumerate. 

 Lomato-dactylus (Van der Hoven), Leiurus (Blyth), 

 Platydactylus (Cuv.) ? Sphcjeriodaciylus (Cuv.) ? 



Pterojpleura (Gray), Diplodactylus (Gray), 



Hemidactylus (Cuv.), Ptychozoon (KuhL), 



Ptyodactylus (Cuv.), Crossurus (Wag.), 



Phyllodactylus (Gray), Stenodactylus (Fitz.), 



Thecadactylus (Dum.), Gymnodactylus (Spix.) 9 



Phelsuma (Ooct.), Tarentola, 



Ehacodactylus (Eitz.), Phyllitrus, 



and a great many more, but I think the above may be considered 

 the most important of those hitherto acknowledged : but without speci- 

 mens of the animals or good illustrations, which latter these brief 

 observations of mine do not admit of, it is totally impossible for me to 

 describe, or convey any idea of the peculiarities existing in the 

 formation of the suckers of the several species. 



I will now describe each of my living specimens separately. It is 

 possible that some of u them may have been described already, but as 

 I am not aware of any such description and have no means of reference 

 I will name each myself and give a brief description of it. 



1. Gecko verus ; length 9 to 12 inches ; general colour, dark slate 

 with light ash coloured bands round the body; the light bands are spotted 

 with white, and the dark slate with red spots. The tail is of the length 

 of its body with bands all round it of light and dark slate, divided by 

 dark red or nearly black bands. Irides greenish yellow, large and full 

 of veins. Body compressed, with rough tubercles on the surface, as also 

 on the tail, of a small size. The males are darker than the females and 



4 A 





