42 
ROOM X. 
Nat. Hist. 
claw ( Gecko Icevis), has many scales under the toes, and 
when the animal is caught, in its exertion to escape it 
often casts off its tail. It does the same if thrown alive 
into spirits, in which case the separated tail contracts, 
and assumes an almost globular shape, and is most 
usually found in this state in collections, whence this 
species has been generally called the Turnip-tail Gecko 
(Gecko rapicauda). The Beautiful Sheath-claw ( Phyllo - 
dactylus pulchellus) has only two or three transverse 
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 lobatus ), 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 compressed 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 destroy¬ 
ing 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 peculiarly arched, so as to 
give them the power of grasping very strongly. Of 
these, the Beautiful Cyrtodactyle ( Cyrtodactylus pul~ 
chellus ), 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, expanded tail. 
Case 4 contains the 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 
Chameleons and Agamse. 
The Agamae ( Agama ), are placed in the upper part 
of this Case (No. 4). They present several peculiari¬ 
ties 
