34 
NATURAL HISTORY. [UPPER FLOOR. 
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 lobatus ), the scales under 
the toes radiate from a centre, like the sticks of a fan: 
and the Imbricated 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, the ends being compressed and free. These 
are common about dwellings in India, Egypt, South Ame¬ 
rica, and other warm countries, and are therefore usually 
called House Lizards. Their food consists principally of 
insects, especially flies, for destroying which they are pro¬ 
tected by the inhabitants. 
The last group ( Cyrtodactylus ) has the form and habits 
of the Gecko, but differs in the toes being very thin, slen¬ 
der, versatile, and peculiarly arched, so as to give them the 
power of grasping very strongly. Of these, the Beautiful 
Cyrtodactyle ( Cyrtodactylus pulcheLius ), from India, and 
the Ocellated Cyrtodactyle ( Cyrt . ocellatus), have the tail 
slender and round, while the Flat-tailed Cyrtodactyle 
(Lacerta platura ) of New Holland has a cordiform, ex¬ 
panded tail. 
It also contains those Lizards which have their teeth 
placed on the edge of the jaws, and so firmly fixed to them 
as to appear part of the jaws themselves; as the Chame¬ 
leons and Agamae. 
The Agamae ( Agama ) are placed in the upper part of 
this Case (No. 4): they present several peculiarities of 
form, and have therefore been separated into many groups. 
Some have the head Lyre-shaped, and the back and tail 
crested ( Gonyocephalus ), as the Tiger Agama ( Agama ti- 
grina ): other species have the head armed with spines over 
the back of the ears, and the scales large and directed up¬ 
wards ( Calotes ), as the Common Calotes ( Lacerta Calotes), 
of a fine blue colour, and the Indian Calotes ( Agamu in- 
dica). These animals lay fusiform eggs. 
TheBronchoceles differ from the Calotes, by the scales of 
the back being small and horizontal; as the Blue Broncho- 
cele ( Agama cristcitella), and the Long-legged Bronchocele 
{Agama mdtuosa); one species, the Armed Bronchocele 
