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Show 866 MR. S. S. FLOWER ON THE REPTILES AND [Dec 1, 11. HEMIDACTYLUS PLATYURUS, Schn. Nycterldlum platyurus, Stol. J. A. S B. 1873, p. 113. Nycterldlum schnelderl, Giinther, Rep. Brit. Ind. p. 111. Hemldactylus platyurus, Boul. Cat. Liz. i. p. 143. Cantor observed this species in houses in tbe valley of Penang ; Stoliczka found it in the collection he got from Penang and Province Wellesley. Hab. India, Ceylon, South China, Indo-China, Malay Peninsula and Archipelago. 12. MIMETOZOON FLOWERI, Blgr. Mimetozoon flowerl, Boul. P. Z. S. 1896, p. 767, pl. xxxvi. The specimen described by Mr. Boulenger I caught at dusk, running on the ground, in the garden of the " Crag" Hotel, Penang Hill, at an elevation of 2200', in March 1896. Hab. Malay Peninsula. 13. GEHYRA MUTILATA, Wiegm. Hemldactylus peronli, Cantor, p. 22. Peripla peronii, Stoliczka, J. A. S. B. 1870, p. 163. Gehyra mutilata, Boul. Cat. Liz. i. p. 148. Cantor observed this species in houses in the valley of Penang; and Stoliczka says it is the most common House-Gecko all over the island of Penang, along the sea-coast as well as on the top of the hill, elevation 2500'. I found this Gecko swarming in houses wherever I stayed in Penang and Singapore (also in Deli, Sumatra), and, as Stoliczka says, from the sea-level to the top of the hill: it is to be found both inside and outside buildings, and I have also found it in gardens. It is very voracious, and will attempt to seize any insect; I have more than once seen a Gehyra attack a full-sized Hierodula vitrea aud repulsed. It shows great ingenuity both in escaping capture and in obtaining its food. It frequents lamps especially at night, to catch the insects attracted by the light. Whenever these Geckos are about you hear their cheerful noise, and also at intervals during the day when they are out of sight in holes or under the roof. Cantor (p. 20), in describing Gecko monarchus, says its cry resembles the monosyllable ' tok,' repeated 6 or 8 times with increased celerity ; I have not heard the cry of G. monarchus, but the above description well suits that of Gehyra mutilata. These Geckos throw off their tails on the slightest provocation. There was one living in tbe Officers' Mess at Penang, in which the reproduced tail had grown bifid laterally. The young are very different in appearance to the adults, on account of the slenderer body and tail and the coloration. Stoliczka (J. A. S. B. 1870, p. 163) says " the young lizard is brown, with numerous rather large round pale spots all over the body;" but I have found them pale olive-brown with distinct dark brown spots above, and immaculate buff beneath. They seem to vary greatly. The spots disappear as they grow larger. The adults |
