VEETEBRATA. 



205 



Amphisbanida. Trogonophis. 



Lepidosternon. Chirotida. 



Amphisbaena. Chirotes. 



GEISSOSAURA. Tongue short, bifid at the tip, slightly exten 

 sible ; ventral scales rounded, imbricate. 



Body lizard-like or serpent-like, generally covered with rounded 

 overlapping scales ; the feet, when present, or more than rudi- 

 mentary, are very small. 



Feeble, harmless animals, living in holes or under stones, and 

 feeding on insects and worms. Seps is viviparous. Our only re- 

 presentative of this suborder the slowworm or blindworm is 

 ovo-viviparous, bringing forth from seven to twelve young at a 

 birth. The Scinck (Scincus officinalis), a native of Egypt and 

 Syria, was once highly valued for its medicinal qualities. 



Scincidce. Anguidce. Acontiidce. 



Lygosoma = Hinulia Anguis (Slowworm). Acontias; 



= Mocoa. Diploglossus (Gaily- Typhlonurus=Ty- 



Euprepes = Mabouy a . wasp) . phline. 



Scincus. Ophiodes. Gymnophtkalmidas. 



- 



Seps-=Gongylus. Gyinnophthalmus. 

 Scelotes. Ablepharus. 



Order III. CROCODILIA. 

 LORICATA. EMYDOSAUEIA. HYDROSAURIA. 



Teeth lodged in distinct sockets. Body covered with bony 

 plates. Feet short, toes webbed. Ribs with bifurcate heads. 

 Ectopterygoids present. Ventricle double. 



The cervical vertebrae are remarkable for having short ribs ; the 

 dorsal vertebrae are procoelous in the recent species. A series of 

 so-called abdominal ribs, which are not connected with the ver- 

 tebrae, are formed by the ossification of tendinous portions of the 

 rectus abdominis. There are three eyelids, a movable earlid, 

 the only approach to an external ear in reptiles, and a short 

 fleshy tongue. The heart has four complete chambers ; but there 

 is an opening between the two aortic arches (foramen Panizzte), 

 and consequently the mixture of venous and arterial blood does 



