LIZARDS. 



3 



Sect. I. SCALY REPTILES, (Squamata). 



Body covered with overlapping or granular scales. Skull formed 

 of separate bones. The ear-bone external, and only articulated to 

 the skulL Tongue free, elongate, nicked at the tip, often exten- 

 sile. The lungs free in the cavity of the thorax. Vent a linear 

 cross slit. The male organ and vagina forked. Oviparous, rarely 

 ovoviviparous : the eggs when deposited covered with a more or 

 less coriaceous shell. 



Order L LIZARDS, (Saura). 



Mouth not dilatable, jaws toothed, the lower jaw-bones being 

 united by a bony suture in front. Eye generally with distinct 

 eyelids. Drum of the ear generally distinct, exposed. Limbs 4, 

 distinct, rarely in such a rudimentary state as to be hidden under 

 the skin. Toes clawed. Body elongate, rounded, covered with 

 imbricated or granular scales. Ribs distinct, mobile, and with a 

 distinct sternum. Tail elongate, tapering, rarely prehensile, gene- 

 rally covered with whorls of scales. Egg with hard skin. The 

 young not undergoing any metamorphosis. 



Synopsis of the Families. 



Suborder I. Leptogloss^. Tongue flat ^ elongate^ end bifid. 



Tribe I. Cyclosaura. Scales of the belly square, in cross bands ; 

 of the back and tail rhombic and imbricate, or circular and 

 subgi-anular. Tongue elongate, flattened, free, nicked, or with 

 2 elongate, cylindrical, horny tips. Eyes diurnal, with 2 val- 

 vular lids. Feet for walking. Toes unequal, compressed. 



a. Head with small many-sided shields. Tongue sheathed at the 



base. 



1. MoNiTORiD^. Head-shields flattish, scales small. Old world 



and Australasia. 



2. Helodermid^. Head-shields and scales of body convex, tu- 



bercular. Teeth with a groove behind. New world. 



b. Head with large regular shields. Tongue mostly free at the base. 



* Sides flattish, covered with small often granular scales. 



3. Teid^. Supra-orbital plate horny. Teeth solid, rooted. 



Scales small, granular, often with larger plates. New world. 



B-2 



