62 REPTILES. 



Tribe IT. Geissosaura. 



Scales of the "belly and (almost always) of the back and sides 

 rounded, quincuncial, imbricate, formed of a more or less thick, 

 vascular, bony plate, covered with a thin epidermis, often showing 

 the vessels through it. Sides rounded, covered with scales like 

 those of the back. Tongue narrow, short, flat, slightly nicked at 

 the end. Head covered with regular many-sided shields (rather 

 scale-like in Lialisidse) ; neck not contracted. Body fusif(n'm or 

 subcylindrical. Preanal pores none, (except in Pygopus and 

 Lialis). 



A. Eyes distinct^ exposed. Eyelid rudimentary. Head conicaL 



Fam, XL Gape-eyed Scincks, (Gymnophthalmid^). 



Nostrils lateral, in a single nasal plate. Teeth conical, sim- 

 ple. Palate toothless. Tongue scaly, nicked at the tip. Eyes 

 naked ; eyelids rudimentary, circular, ring-like and immoveable. 

 Ears distinct. Body fusiform. Limbs 4, weak, unequal-. Fe- 

 moral pores none. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



a. Head conical. Rostral rounded. * 



* Scales keeled. 



1. Gymnophthalmus. Toes 5-4. 



** Scales smooth, keelless. 



2. Ablepharus. Toes 5-5. Supranasal none ; frontoparietal 

 plate double. Ears exposed. 



3. Cryptoblepharus. Toes 5-5. Supranasal none ; frontopa- 

 rietal plate single. Ears exposed. 



4. MoRETHiA. Toes 5-5. Supranasal 2, band-like ; fronto-pa- 



rietal single. Ears distinct. 



5. Menetia. Toes 4-5. Frontoparietal single. Ears hidden. 



(>. ■SI ic ALIA. Toes 4-4. Frontoparietal double ; rostral truncat- 

 ed ; nasal transverse, band-like. Ears hidden. 



b. Head icedge-shaped. Rostral rather produced. 

 7. Lerista. Toes 2-3. Scales smooth. 



