i66 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 
eyes, by way of compensation, being 
covered by transparent horny plates, 
which impart to these creatures that 
peculiar stony stare which un- 
doubtedly constitutes one of the 
most repulsive features of their tribe. 
There are, however, a few exceptional 
lizards devoid of eyelids, though these 
species do not take a snake-like form. 
Lizards, while distributed through- 
out temperate and tropical regions, 
attain to the zenith of their repre- 
sentation in size, number, and variety 
of form and colour in tropical and 
sub-tropical countries. The majority 
of species are essentially sun-wor- 
shippers, and in temperate climates, 
such as that of England, where they 
are but sparsely represented, pass the 
cheerless winter months in a state of 
torpid hibernation. 
The first position among the 
Lizard Tribe is usually accorded to 
the Gecko Family — agroup number- 
ing 280 species, which present several 
somewhat anomalous features and 
characteristics. In the first place, in 
contradistinction to the majority of 
lizard forms, they are for the most 
j- ^ j part nocturnal in their habits, and 
ph<,tc by tv. saviiu.K,nt, F.z.s. have their eyes specially modified to 
BURMESE GECKOS meet them. Geckos, as the exception 
One of the largest members of the tribes measuring 8 or 10 inches its length the 01 dinary lizards previously 
referred to, possess no eyelids and 
the pupil of the eye, as seen in broad daylight, is mostly represented by a narrow v'ertical slit, 
like that of a cat, or a nocturnal dog-fish. As the night approaches, however, the membranous 
diaphragm is retracted, displaying to view a symmetrically orbicular pupil of abnormal size 
and luminosity. Another 
prominent characteristic of 
the geckos is the peculiar 
modification of their feet, 
which in most instances are 
furnished with adhesive disks 
or pads, which enable these 
lizards to run with ease, after 
the manner of flies, on the 
smooth surface of a wall or 
window-pane, or even along 
the ceiling. It is further 
noteworthy of the geckos that 
they are the only lizards which 
possess the power of emitting 
bf Saville-K<ni^ F.Z.S. 
BURMESE GECKO 
Under-surface showng minute hexagonal scales and peculiar structure of the adhesive toe-pads 
