54 LIZARDS OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 



snout distinctly longer than distance from eye to ear, one and 

 one-third to one and one-half times diameter of orbit; a slight 

 suggestion of a lateral skin fold ; two tubercles at base of tail. 



Color in life. — Head dark brown above ; body and tail with a 

 median and two lateral rows of irregular light spots; a light 

 brown stripe begins on point of snout, passes through eye, and 

 continues to tail, below which the side is darker, the part bor- 

 dering directly below almost black; underpart of body canary 

 yellow; occasionally undersurface brownish, flecked with small 

 brown spots. 



Measurements of Hemidactylus frenatus Dumeril and Bibron. 



mm. 



Total len^h 117 



Snout to vent 55 



Tail 62 



Snout to foreleg 21 



Axilla to groin 25 



Foreleg 18 



Hind leg 24 



Width of head 12 



Length of head 17 



Variation. — This species varies chiefly in the number of tu- 

 bercles on the back, the size and regularity of the granules on 

 the back, the distinctness of the lateral fold which is apparent 

 in certain specimens and absent in others, and the number of 

 labials and preanal pores. The number of pores varies between 

 twenty-eight and thirty-five, the usual number being thirty-two 

 in Philippine specimens; the labials vary between eight and 

 thirteen, eleven being the usual number. In color they 

 vary from a light uniform flesh color to blackish above, either 

 more or less uniform or with a distinct pattern showing spots 

 and distinct laterodorsal lines. These color changes depend some- 

 what on light and environment. At night in artificial light, they 

 are flesh color when on white walls and rather grayish on darker 

 substances; specimens taken in daylight are usually dark, more 

 especially if on trees or in sunlight. 



Remarks. — This species is remarkably numerous and is es- 

 pecially common in all types of buildings throughout the Islands. 

 These lizards are regarded as welcome visitors and are of dis- 

 tinct value in destroying cockroaches, mosquitoes, moths, and 

 other insect pests. Unfortunately they do not take to a diet of 

 ants and are of little or no help in destroying these common 

 pests. Their characteristic call is a slight chirping noise, re- 

 peated several times rather rapidly. They are not especially shy 



