CH El ROTES, OR HAND-EARED LIZARD. 



39 



In speaking of this reptile, Stedman has the following remarks: "This is the snake 

 which, supposed blind, and vulgarly said to be fed by the large ants, is in this country hon- 

 ored with the name of King of the Emmets. The flesh of the Amphisbsena, dried and reduced 

 to a fine powder, is confidently administered as a sovereign and infallible remedy in all cases 

 of dislocation and broken bones, it being very naturally inferred that an animal which has the 

 power of healing an entire amputation in its own case, should at least be able to cure a simple 

 fracture in the case of another." 



This process of reasoning alludes to a curious popular error respecting the Amphisbsena. 

 The people of the countries which it inhabits believe that, if one of these reptiles is cut in two, 

 each half, being furnished with a separate head, hastens to its fellow-part, and neatly fitting 

 the severed surfaces, repairs the breach, and is soon restored to its original condition. 



It is rather a dull and sluggish animal when exposed to light, crawling slowly upon the 

 ground, twisting itself lazily about, and opening its mouth in a purposeless kind of fashion, 

 without any definite intention of biting or escaping. 



The color of the Sooty Amphisbsena is rather variable, but consists of black and white. 

 Its length is about three feet. The White Amphisbsena (Amphisbcena alba) belongs also to 

 this genus. It is of a white color, and remarkable for a little pellucid dot in the front edge of 

 each scale. 



CLOSELY allied to this creature is another reptile, very appropriately called the CHEI- 

 ROTES, or HAND-EARED LIZARD (GTieirbtes lumbricmdes). This is a native of Brazil, and, as 

 far as is known, is of subterranean habits, like the amphisbeena. 



The Cheirotes is the only example of all the amphisbsenas that possesses external limbs, 

 and even in this instance they are small and but slightly developed. There are no hind legs, 



/^/J^^ a ^ 



CHEIROTES, OE HAND-EARED LIZARD. 



but the two fore legs are set just behind the head ; nearly in the place where the ears might 

 be expected to be seen. They are very short, rather flat and strong, and are terminated with 

 five toes, four of which are armed with a tolerably strong claw. The fifth toe is very small and 

 without a claw. 



The head of this creature is no larger than the body, the teeth are conical, moderately 

 strong and slightly curved backwards, the muzzle is arched, the tongue horny at the tip, the 

 tail is short, and there is a row of small pores on the under side of the abdomen. In our illus- 

 tration the animal is shown in its natural size, which varies from eight to ten inches. Its 



