Encyclopaedia Britannica, or, a Dictionary of arts, sciences, and miscellaneous literature : enlarged and improved. Illustrated with nearly six hundred engravings > Volume 8, ELE-FOR

lap- T. . ERPET
Liza 'Is. brown, with fome irregular dufky or bluilh variega-
—-v—' tions 5 but this colour becomes much more brilliant in
warmer regions.
It is a native of Afia and Africa, and fome of the
warmer parts of Europe, inhabiting obfcure receffes, ca¬
verns, old walls, &c. It has been fuppoled to be of a
poifonous nature. A fluid exfudes from the lamellae of
the feet, which is (aid to be extremely acrid j and when
any of it has remained on fruit, when it is eaten, it is
faid that it produces troublefome fymptoms. The pe¬
culiar flrufture of the feet enables the animal to attach
itfelf to the fraootheft furfaces.
Var. Tohai.—This, which is confidered as a variety
of the former, is about a foot long. The body is co¬
vered above with a granulated Ikin, varied with red
and blue undulations $ the belly is afh colour, and in-
terfperfed with red fpots; the head is large and trian¬
gular.
This is a native of Siam, where it occaflonally en¬
ters the houfes, and is conlidered as a poifonous animal.
The Indian falamander, defcribed by Bontius, feems
to be of the fame kind; the length is about a foot; the
colour fea-green, fpotted with red } the head large,
and like that of a toad y the body is broad and the tail
long.
It is a native of Java. It is faid that the inhabitants
hold up the animal by the tail to make it difcharge fa-
liva from its mouth, which is colle&ed for the purpofe
of poifoning their arrows.
57. Lacerta Dubia, Geckotte.
Specif. Char —Livid colour; upper furface covered with
pointed warts 3 no femoral papillae.
This fpecies bears fome refemblance to the gecko;
but differs from it in being thicker and fhorter, and in
wanting the papillae under the thighs. The tail in the
young animal is divided into flrongly marked aculeated
rings. Thefe become gradually lefs confpiouous with
the age of the animal, and are at laft totally oblite¬
rated.
It is a native of the fouth of France, where it is
known by the name of tarente, and is regarded as an
innocent animal. It frequents ruins, rvalls, houfes ;
delights greatly in funfhine, and avoids damp fhady
fituations. It remains concealed in the hollows of walls
during winter, not, however, in a torpid, but in an in¬
ert flate.
58. Lacerta Perfoliata, Verfoliated Gecko.
Specif. Char.—Colour browniih, fmooth above; lamel¬
lae of the feet divided by a furrow; tail frequently
turbinated.
This fpecies is of a thicker form, has fhorter limbs,
and the tubercles on the back are lefs dilfinfl than the
common gecko. It is alfo different in wanting the pa¬
pillae under the thighs. The tail is remarkably fwelled
immediately beyond its origin, and then tapers to the
extremity, fomewhat refembling a young turnip root,
from whence it has been denominated lacerta rapu
Kauda.
Its native country is not mentioned.
4
O L O G Y. 30
59. Lacerta Maijritanica, Mauritania Gecko. Lizards.
Specif Char.—Colour brown, covered above with fliarp
warts ; tail flat, and furnifhed with fcuta beneath ;
lamellae of the feet lunulated and divided.
This fpecies refembles the common one, but is dif¬
ferent from being covered with fpiny or fliarp-pointed
warts on the upper furface. The toes are lamellated
beneath, but are not divided by a middle fulcus.
60. Lacerta Sinensis, Chinefe Gecko.
Specif. Char.—Tail flat, all the toes unguiculated ; face
perforated with feveral pores.
The head is broad and flat; the teeth fmall; the
tongue flat, and emarginated at the tip. About the
fades of the nofe and eyes there are feveral feat, tered pores.
It is a native of China, and is frequently feen in
houfes, running about the walls, and climbing readily
on the fmooth eft furfaces. It preys chiefly on the fmall-
er kind of cock-roach. It is confidered as an innocent
animal.
61. Lacerta Vittata, White-Jlriped Gecko.
Specif. Char.—Colour yellowifh brown, with a white
dorfal band, which is forked over the head.
This is a fmall fpecies, not exceeding feven or eight
inches in length; the head is large in proportion to the
body ; the toes are lamellated beneath, divided by a ful¬
cus, and terminated by curved claws. The upper furface
is covered with extremely fmall tubercles; they are fo
minute as to be fcarcely perceptible.
This fpecies is faid to be a native of India.
62. Lacerta Fimbriata, Fimbriated Gecko.
Specif Char.—A membranaceous fimbriated border on
each fide of the body ; tail flat; lamella; of the feet
divided by a furrow.
This is a very remarkable fpecies, which, as the
count de Cepede, who deferibes it, obferves, (eems in
fome degree to conne6! the chameleon, the gecko, and
the water-newts. The largeft individual whic h he
examined meafured about eight inches and a half in
length. The head is large and flattened, and its out¬
line feen from above is nearly triangular, as in the cha¬
meleon ; but the triangle is of a longer form, and there
is no riling creft. The moft remarkable part of its
ftruffure is the fringed procefs which commences on
each fide of the head, and is continued along the fides
of the body. The colour of this animal varies as in the
chameleon, exhibiting different fhades of red, yellow,
green, and blue.
It is a native of Madagafcar, where it is pretty com¬
mon. It is a harmlefs animal, and yet is regarded with
great abhorrence by the natives, who confider it as of a
poifonous nature, and run from it with great precipita¬
tion. This popular prejudice is fuppofed to have arifen
from a peculiar habit of the animal, of running with
open mouth towards the fpeftator, infteadof making its
efcape when it is dilcovered. It appears chiefly in rainy- *
weather, moving about with great agility, and fpring-