VOICE OF GECKO 
which habitually walk about on smooth and slippery 
leaves and branches, have the same lamellae upon the 
toes. This statement by no means exhausts the 
peculiarities of the gecko tribe, which includes some of 
the most remarkable among lizards. Outwardly they 
are quite unmistakable lizards: but of the majority 
it will be noticed that they stare with a protracted 
gaze unbroken by a wink. This is due to the absence 
of eyelids and the covering over of the eye by a trans- 
parent membrane, which gives to the look of the reptile 
the unwavering and coldly unsympathetic glance of 
the snake. Like some other lizards, the geckos fracture 
their tails, or rather allow them to be fractured, with 
the greatest impunity. This is a great boon to them, 
for a waggling tail is clearly that part of the animal 
which is most likely to be bitten at by a bird in pursuit. 
The easy breakage of the tail and the ease with which 
it is subsequently repaired by its former possessor, 
enables the gecko to successfully brave many dangers 
incidental to an exposed and reptilian life. There 
are certain features in the skeleton, which imply an 
ancient history for the geckos ; for instance, the noto- 
chord, that softish gristly rod which is the forerunner 
of the vertebral column, and which persists largely 
or entirely in fishes, is also largely persistent in these 
geckos. The tokay itself is found in many parts of 
the East, and, like other geckos, and unlike lizards in 
general, it has a voice which is described by Captain 
Flower as consisting of the word “tokay”’ pro- 
nounced several times “ after a preliminary cackle.” The 
native of Siam uses this voice as a means of gambling ; 
bets are taken upon the number of times that the word 
“ tokay ” is pronounced by the lizards, which is usually 
seven or eight, but sometimes as many as eleven. The 
‘tokay can also puff and hiss, and is so far merely lacer- 
tilian and not geckonine. It lives in houses and is 
236 
