39 
body like those of the Chameleon, and like them, these 
animals have the faculty of changing their colour with 
great rapidity. Three of the genera belonging to this 
division of the Guanas are each marked with very 
striking characters; the first, the Basilisk (Basilis- 
cus), has a compressed hood on the back of the head, 
and a fin-shaped crest down the back; the second, 
( Chamcsleopsis) , from Mexico, has a compressed ridge 
on the back of the head, but only a slight dorsal crest. 
Both these have simple toes. The third ( Anolis ) 
has a simple flat head, but the last joint but one of the 
toes is dilated on the sides into a pear-shaped disc, so 
as to enable these animals to walk on smooth and nearly 
perpendicular surfaces. Of this genus there are many 
species.—Lastly, the marbled Lizards ( Polychrus ) have 
the ribs surrounding the abdomen, like the Anolis, but 
their toes are not dilated, and they have no dorsal 
crest. 
In the lower part of this Case (No. 3.) are the 
Geckos. These are Nocturnal Lizards, of a dull, lurid 
appearance, with depressed heads, and large round 
eyes. Their body is usually covered with small scales, 
amongst which are frequently larger tubercles, and the 
under side of their toes is generally furnished with 
variously shaped, imbricated scales, or folds of the 
skin, which enable the animal to crawl up glass, 
and even to run with facility, the back downwards, 
on the ceiling of a room, like a fly. They are found 
in all parts of the world, and are divided into 
many groups, according to the form of their toes. 
Some of the most peculiar are the Common Gecko 
(Gecko guttatus), from India; the Chinese Gecko 
(Gecko Revesii), from China; and the Ornamented 
Gecko (Gecko ovnatus), from Newfoundland. All 
these have only a single transverse series of scales, 
on the under side of each toe. Hardwicke’s Gecko 
(Eublepharis Hardwickii) differs from the former, 
by the toes being more slender, and less dilated; 
ROOM X. 
Nat. Hist. 
one 
