124 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



JDussumieri, having the nape crested; and D. hcematopogon, the Red- 

 throated Dragon, which is without the crest. 



III. — Dracunculns, of which five species are described— namely, 

 D. quinquefasciatus, the Banded Flying Lizard, nape not crested, 

 having a longitudinal fold ; D. lineatus, having the nape crested, 

 the ears slightly concave ; D. orriatus, wings grey, reticulated with 

 black, and having broad black bands at the edge; the Spotted 

 Winged Dragon (D. maculatus), grey, and the wings black spotted ; 

 and D. spiloptems, having the wing reddish near the body.] 



Geckotid^e, or Thick-Tongued Lizards. 



This singular family of Saurians have the head wide and flattened, 

 the mouth wide, the nostrils distant and lateral, the eyes large, with 

 short lids ; the tongue short, fleshy, and capable of slight elongation. 

 The body is thick and short, low on the legs, rather squat and 

 depressed, with a belly trailing on the ground, and a back without 

 crest. The skin is defended by granular scales, interlaced with others 

 of a tubercular character. Almost always they are of a sombre 

 colour. Their feet are short, wide apart, and robust ; they are 

 furnished on the upper part with imbricated laminae, which enable 

 them to adhere firmly to the surface of even the smoothest bodies, 

 and to run with rapidity in all directions on a plain surface, and even 

 to remain stationary with the back downwards, like the common 

 house fly. Their hooked and retractile claws, like those of cats, 

 also assist them in climbing, crawling up trees and rocks, on which 

 they will sometimes remain immovable for several hours. Their 

 flexible bodies mould themselves into the depressions of the surface 

 of the earth, their natural colour blending, and being confounded 

 with that of the soil, they become almost invisible. Their eyeballs, 

 which dilate and contract considerably, protect them from the action 

 of the sun's rays, and enable them, it is thought, to see in the dark. 

 They are nocturnal, avoid the sun's light ; and catch their food in the 

 chinks of rocks. Their movements are rapid, silent, and sudden. 

 They hibernate, and are provided with fatty masses in the groin 

 which are supposed to be a provision for their nourishment during 

 that period. Geckos emit sounds which resemble the noise an 

 equestrian makes when encouraging his horse. This is produced by 

 smacking their tongues on the palate. They frequent habitations in 

 which they can find food, and are timid, inoffensive, and quite 

 incapable of inflicting injury; but their repulsive appearance makes 

 them objects of general repugnance, and has caused evil properties to 



