202 VERTEBRA! A. 



The Sauria are oviparous or ovo-viviparous, not producing 

 many young at a birth. They are mostly very active, enjoying 

 the hottest sunshine, although a few are seminocturnal, and living 

 chiefly on insects. 



Out of nearly 800 species only three are found in this country, 

 viz. two lizards (Lacerta agilis and Zootoca vivipara) and the 

 blindworm (Anguis fray His). Various large lizards of the tropics 

 are known as Iguanas. Ascalabotes fascicularis is the Tarentola 

 of the Italians. The glass-snake of North America is Ophisaurus 

 ventralis. The Tuatara of New Zealand (Hatteria punctata) is 

 the most remarkable form of the Eeptilia, combining "the cha- 

 racters of a high and low organization." 



The Sauria may be divided into eight suborders, but of these 

 the Cyclosaura and Geissosaura are sometimes united under the 

 name of Cionocrania or of Leptoglossse. Gray's classification is 

 here principally followed. Amphisbasnoidaea he placed with the 

 " Shield Eeptiles," his Cataphracta. 



Vertebrae proccelous. 

 Tongue short, thick. 



Pupil linear NYCTISAURA. 



Pupil round. 



Tail short, anus terminal AMPHISB^ENOID^EA. 



Tail long, anus not terminal. 

 Ventral scales overlapping. 



Tongue entire or nearly so STROBILOSAURA. 



Tongue notched at the tip G-EISSOSAURA. 



Ventral scales placed in cross bands CYCLOSAURA. 

 Tongue elongate. 



Eyes covered, except round the pupil, by 



a circular lid DENDROSAURA. 



Eyes with two valvular lids FISSILINGUIA. 



Vertebrae amphiccelous EH YNCIIOCEPIIALIA. 



CYCLOSAURA ( = Ptychopleurse). Tongue short, slightly ex- 

 tensible. Ventral scales arranged in cross bands. 



Body either lizard- or serpent-like. There are two or four 

 short feet or none. The back is covered with large scales. 



Gray included Lacertidse, Monitoridae, &c. in his Cyclosaura. 

 Claus unites this and the former in one suborder Brevilinguia. 



Chalcididce. Zonurida. Ecpleopodida. 



Chalcides. Zonurus. Ecpleopus. 



Chamaesaura. Pseudopus. Cercosaurus. 



Cricochalcis. Ophisaurus. 



Gerrhonotus. 



