3866 Notices of New Books. 



add that we strenuously recommend every reader of the ' Zoologist ' 

 to become a purchaser of the ' Sojourn.' 



The Smooth Sheath-claw. — "June 3rd. — Coming down from Blue- 

 fields Peak about noon, my attention was attracted to two of these 

 geckos [Thecadactylus laevis), resting near each other on the trunk of 

 a tree, beside a deep cleft. From a slight difference in their size, I 

 supposed them male and female ; I struck at one with my riding- 

 switch but failed to reach it ; and they both glided into the hollow 

 tree. Soon, however, they began to peep out again ; and I desired 

 my servant to mount the tree in order to drive them out ; which he 

 did by thrusting in a stick at the opposite side. The larger darted 

 out, and on being touched, precipitated himself to the ground, where 

 he began to wriggle with the usual awkward agility of the species • 

 I struck him lightly with a stick, but in so doing unfortunately severed 

 the tail from the body. 



"The amputated member, however, continued to writhe in rapid con- 

 tortions. I now put down a tin canister on the ground, with the open 

 mouth just before the animal's head, and on being touched behind, 

 it darted in according to its natural propensity to take refuge in dark 

 holes and crevices, and I thus secured it. Its colours had been till 

 now dark brown handsomely mottled with black, but on my arrival 

 at home I found it of a dirty white or drab, with the mottlings few and 

 almost obsolete. The stomach was found on dissection to contain 

 fragments of beetles, but in the intestine was a leguminous seed. 



"The appearance and physiognomy of this lizard are unprepossess- 

 ing; there is a savage sullenness in its look, very different from the 

 meek countenance of the Ameiva. It is very common, particularly in 

 out-buildings and offices, where it inhabits crevices in the roofs and 

 rafters, a pair commonly living in the same hole or near together. 

 On the approach of night one hears on all sides the singular, cracked, 

 cackling call of these animals, somewhat like the sound produced by 

 drawing a stick across a comb. M. Dumeril's suggestion, that this 

 voice may be produced by the tongue smacked as it were in the con- 

 cavity of the palate, is the less unlikely from the fact that this organ 

 is large, flexible, and fleshy. The name of croaking lizard commonly 

 applied to the species in Jamaica, is derived from its peculiar voice. 

 In the woods the voice is also heard at night proceeding from hollow 

 trees, and continued through the whole of the hours of darkness. 



"The large prominent eye without any eyelid, whose pupil contracts 

 in strong light to a perpendicular line, indicates their nocturnal habits; 

 yet they arc frequently seen by day, as in the case just mentioned. 



