THE EYED PALLETTE-TIP. 
285 
frame, one or two of these little harmless creatures, 
beneath the sash we have lifted ; their minute dimen- 
sions enabling them to insinuate themselves into 
situations where we should suppose they would 
inevitably be crushed to death. The frequency of 
its occurrence has made the species familiar to the 
sight of the inhabitants, and it is viewed with no 
more dread or dislike than we feel for the flies that 
alight on our window-panes and buzz in the corners. 
Though it bustles about with much contortion, its 
speed is small, so that it is very readily caught. Yet 
on being held in the hand, it writhes so perti- 
naciously as frequently to slip through the Angers : 
and so violent are its actions, that though held by 
the middle or fore parts of the body, I have known it 
twist its tail absolutely off, spontaneously, in these 
contortions. Such a circumstance strikingly proves 
how slight is the tenacity both of hone and muscle in 
the tail of Saurian reptiles, and in that of the Geek- 
otida in particular. This member, so readily sepa- 
rated, turns and twists about, of its own accord, and 
continues to roll over and over, for some minutes 
after its dissolution of partnership with its body. 
The tongue in the Geckos is large and fleshy ; and 
all our species have the habit of protruding it to lick 
the lips and face, just as a cow does : in the present 
little species this is an action very frequently per- 
formed, and the tongue is thrust out to such a degree, 
that even the eyes are wiped by it. 
Another of its actions reminds one of a cat ; an 
animal to which the Geckos have been compared, 
on account of their retractile claws, and the pupil 
