OPHIOMOEUS. 221 



258. Scinciis arenarius. 



Sciiicus arenaviu.s, Mtirray, ZooL Sind, p. 353, pi. — , tig. '1 ; Bouleny. 

 Cat. Liz. iii,p. 392. 



Snout depressed, cuneiform, truncated, stronp;]y projecting ; 

 loreal region concave ; mouth inferior ; eye small ; ear hidden. 

 Rostral very large, forming a suture with the frontonasal ; 6 

 supraoculars, second, third, and fourth in contact with the frontal ; 

 parietals shorter thaii the interparietal, followed by 2 to 4 pairs 

 of nuchals ; 8 or 9 upper labials. Scales perfectly smooth, laterals 

 smallest, dorsals not quite so large as ventrals ; 28 or 30 round the 

 middle of the body. Sides of belly and neck angular. Digits 

 short, much depressed and strongly toothed laterally. Cream- 

 coloured, each dorsal scale with one or two bulF streaks or dots ; 7 

 to 10 deej) reddish-brown vertical blotches on each side. 



From snout to vent 4 inches ; tail 2. 



Hab. Sind (Hab plains). 



Genus OPHIOMORUS, 

 Dum. & Bibi'. Evp. Gen. v, p. 790, 1839. 



Palatine bones not meeting on the median line of the palate, 

 which is toothless. Teeth conical or with obtuse crowns. Eye 

 small ; lower eyelid with an undivided transparent disk. Ear 

 hidden or hardly cUstiuguishablc. Nostril pierced in the suture 



Fig. 59. — Upper and side views of Lead of Opkiomorus tridactylu!<. 



between a nasal and a supranasal ; prtefrontals very small or 

 absent ; frontoparietals small, distinct from interparietal. Body 

 much elongate ; limbs rudimentary or absent. 



Distribution. Greece ; South-western Asia, from Asia Minor 

 and Syria to North-western India. 6 species are known. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



Fingers and toes three 0. tridactylus, p. 222. 



Fingers fuur, toes three O. blavfurdii, p. 222. 



