verse scales on each side of the claws, so that 
the ends of the toes very nearly resemble the 
tips of the feet of the common fly. In another 
species, the Egyptian Sheath-claw ( Gecko loba- 
tus ), the scales under the toes radiate from a 
centre, like the sticks of a fan ; and the Imbri¬ 
cated Gecko, a species from Madagascar, which 
has the scales under the toes very like the 
former, has the edge of its body and tail dilated 
into fins. 
Another group ( Hemidactylus ) has only the 
base of the toes dilated, and the ends com¬ 
pressed and free. These are common about 
habitations in India, Egypt, South America, 
and other warm parts of the world, and are 
therefore usually called House Lizards. Their 
food consists principally of insects, especially 
flies, for destroying which they are protected by 
the inhabitants. 
The last group ( Cyrtodactylus ) has the form 
and habits of the Gecko, but differs in the toes 
being very thin, slender, versatile, and pecu¬ 
liarly arched, so as to give them the power of 
grasping very strongly. Of these, the Beautiful 
Cyrtodactyle ( Cyrtodactylus pulchellus ), from 
India, and the Ocellated Cyrtodactyle (Cyrt. ocel- 
latus) have the tail slender and round, while the 
Flat-tailed Cyrtodactyle ( Lacerta platura ), of 
New Holland, has a cordiform expanded tail. 
Case 
