282 
EEPTILBS. 
[Chap. IX. 
during the day, to search, for insects that then retire to 
settle for the night. In a boudoir where the ladies of 
my family spent their evenings, one of these familiar 
and amusing little creatures had its hiding-place behind 
a gilt picture frame. Punctually as the candles were 
lighted, it made its appearance on the wall to be fed 
with its accustomed crumbs ; and if neglected, it reite- 
rated it sharp, quick call of chic, chic, chit, till attended 
to. It was of a delicate gray colour, tinged with pink ; 
and having by accident fallen on a work-table, it fled, 
leaving part of its tail behind it, which, however, it re- 
produced within less than a month. This faculty of 
reproduction is doubtless designed to enable the creature 
to escape from its assailants : the detaching of the limb 
is evidently its own act ; and it is observable, that when 
reproduced, the tail generally exhibits some variation 
from the previous form, the diverging spines being 
absent, the new portion covered with small square uni- 
form scales placed in a cross series, and the scuta below 
being seldom so distinct as in the original member. 1 
In an officer's quarters in the fort of Colombo, a geckoe 
had been taught to come daily to the dinner-table, and 
always made its appearance along with the dessert. The 
family were absent for some months, during which the 
house underwent extensive repairs, the roof having been 
raised, the walls stuccoed, and the ceilings whitened. It 
was naturally surmised that so long a suspension of its 
accustomed habits would have led to the disappearance 
of the little lizard ; but on the return of its old friends, 
it made its entrance as usual at their first dinner the 
instant the cloth was removed. 
Crocodile. — The Portuguese in India, like the Spa- 
1 Brit. Mm. Cat. p. 143 ; Kejlaaet's Prod. Faun. Zcylan., p. 183. 
