126 REPTILES. 



7. Heteromeles, Dum. et Bib. 



Muzzle conical. Nostril lateral, in the hinder edge of the 

 large rostral. Supranasal large, contiguous, internasal large, 

 frontonasals 2, frontoparietal none, frontal large, interparietal 

 small, triangular. Tongue flat, scaly, nicked at the tip. Teeth 

 simple, conical. Palate toothless, with a broad longitudinal 

 groove behind. Ears small, hidden under the scales. Lower eye- 

 lid with a transparent disk. Body cylindrical, elongate, the sides 

 rounded. Scales smooth. Legs 4, weak, far apart. Toes 2-3, 

 subcylindrical, simple, unequal, clawed. Tail conical, pointed. 



The Heteromele. Heteromeles Mauritanicus, Dum. et 

 Bib. E. G. V. 772. 



Greenish, finely black-dotted, beneath whitish, the sides often 

 blackish. 



Inhab. Algiers. From Mus. Paris. 



Fam. XVII. Acoxtias, (Acontiad^). 



Head small, shielded. Muzzle conical. Rostral rather large, 

 cup-shaped, internasal short, frontal large, frontoparietal none, 

 interparietal triangular, moderate. Eyes distinct. Eyelids, lower 

 well developed, upper small or wanting. Nostrils in the middle 

 of the side of the rostral shield, with a slit to its hinder edge. 

 Tongue scaly, imbricate, nicked at the point. Ears very small 

 or hidden. Femoral pores none. Body cylindrical. Limbs 4, 

 very short, or none. Scales smooth. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 

 * Leys 4, short. Ears small. Upper eyelid distinct. 



1. Nessia. Toes 3-3, short, subequal. 



2. EvEsiA. Feet undivided, short. 



** Legs none. Upper eyelid rudimentary. 



3. AcoNTiAS. Limbs none. Eyes with a lower lid. 



1. Nessia, Gray. 



Muzzle conical. Ears very small, dot-like. Body cylindri- 

 cal, elongate, sides rounded. Scales smooth. Legs 4, very short, 

 far apart. Toes 3-3, subequal, clawed. 



The Nessia. Nessia Burtoni, Gray, Ann. N. H. ii. 336. 

 Dum. et Bib. E. G. v. 781. 



Pale brown, beneath paler; scales darker in the middle. 

 Inhab. ? Mus. Chatham. 



