56 
GECKO LIZARD, 
Whether any of the formidable properties attributed to this animal 
be really possessed by it, I took some pains to ascertain, and found 
that they were generally discredited amongst Europeans ; but ob- 
tained no facts that could place the question at rest: it is said 
to be seldom caught and with great difficulty. 
Like the house gecko, it has the power of walking, by a pecu- 
liar structure of its feet, against its gravity in an inverted posi- 
tion upon the smoothest surface. * * It usually inhabits the hollows 
of decayed trees, and seldom comes forth till dark, when it oc- 
casionally enters the interior of houses, spreading alarm by its pe- 
culiar note amongst those who believe in its venomous powers. To 
every one indeed, and especially to a stranger, it is a disgusting animal. 
Its large head, capacious mouth, projecting eyes, and tuberculated 
body, give it a hideous aspect, and occurring to the recollection when 
its shrill voice is heard in the stillness of the night, excites no agree- 
able sensations. The first time that I slept at Sirang I was awakened 
by a singular guttural sound, followed by the loud enunciation of the 
syllables geck-oo, repeated three or four times, and which having 
ceased for a few minutes, were again and again renewed. It was 
in vain to seek for the intruder. The animal, although seeming to 
be within a few feet, was probably without the house on an old tree, 
or if in the room, he fled before light and noise, but renewed his 
interruption when all was again quiet. 
Another gecko, about eight inches long, also from Java, and of 
which I received a specimen, with many other obligations, from 
Professor Reinwardt, differs from the large gecko in being of a 
lead colour marbled with white, but resembles it in the form and 
massam cogunt, tali modo in vivis hoc insectum alendo quotidie servant ad aliquot menses. 
Hoc veneno nullum magis praesentaneum reperiri certum est. Bontius, p. 58. 
* See Sir Everard Home’s account of the organization by which some animals support 
themselves in progressive motion against their gravity. Philosophical Transactions for 
1817- In the same work may be found an admirable engraving of the large Gecko. 
