Page:Natural History, Reptiles.djvu/92

84 or drum, a membrane sunk considerably below the general surface, the orifice bordered by two folds of skin. The skin is very loosely attached to the muscles, weak, and easily torn: it is roughened with minute granular scales, which, on the sides and hinder parts become more inclined, and overlapping, and on the under parts take the form of regular scales. The tail varies in length, but never exceeds that of the body; like that of most Lizards, it is very brittle, and liable to be separated by accident; it is, however, soon replaced. In some species, the sides of the body, the tail, and the limbs, are furnished with expansions of the skin, sometimes fringed or vandyked in a singular manner. The males have femoral pores more frequently than the females, but not invariably.

"The skull of the Geckotidæ is marked by some peculiar characters. The bones are well-defined,

nor do the sutures seem to be obliterated by age. In general contour it approaches the skull of the Crocodilidæ by its width, its flatness, and its length; its particular resemblances to the same part in that Family are to be found in the disposition of the orbits, and the articulation of the jaws. The excavations for the eyes are very large, and apparently incomplete, inasmuch as the orbital frame is not