THE SMOOTH SHEATH-CLAW. 
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faces, has been often described. The toes in this 
species radiate from the foot, are dilated into broad 
oval disks, and have the under surface covered with 
transverse laminae, the edge of each overlapping its 
successor. Minute hooked claws, very acute, like 
those of a cat, doubtless assist the animal in its feats 
of this kind. I do not, however, remember to have 
ever seen this Gecko actually back downward, but 
often crawding on the vertical side of a beam. 
The skin of this animal is very loosely attached to 
the muscles ; and is so soft and fragile that it tears 
with a mere touch, like wetted brown paper. The 
head and back are covered with minute conical 
tubercles very closely set, which, on the sides and 
towards the tail, become morejnclined, and flattened 
in a posterior direction, so as to form overlapping 
scales, which are most regular and largest on the belly 
and tail ; each is in contact with six other surround- 
ing ones. The under side of the tail is crossed by a 
series of broad plates, here and there varied, however, 
by two broad scales supplying the place of one plate. 
The tail has no transverse folds, but the scales are 
arranged with regularity there. I have not been able 
to detect any femoral pores. 
The periodical casting of the skin takes place much 
as in other Lizards. The head and fore parts begin 
to assume a white appearance, and the next day the 
skin of these parts separates from the surface of the 
body, often irregularly, and lies in loose ragged folds 
around it. It now looks like muslin of the most 
delicate flneness : it is slit down the back and sepa- 
rated, but not yet thrown off. At the same time the 
