128 REPTILES. 



Fam. XVIII. Typhlines, (Typhlinid^). 



Rostral rather large, cup-shaped. Nostril in a slit in the ros- 

 tral shields. Chin with a cup like shield. Limhs 2, posterior, 

 undivided, or none. Body cylindrical. Tail cylindrical. Scales 

 smooth, equal, 6-sided. Eyes and ears hidden under the skin. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 

 a. Head shielded. Preanal shield single^ large. 



1. Typhline. Limbs none. Rostral large, cup-shaped. Pre- 



anal shield single, large. 



b. Head-shields synall, scale-like. Preanal scales numerous. 



2. Feylinia. Limbs none. Rostral moderate, depressed. 



3. DiBAMus. Limbs 2, posterior. Rostral large, cup-shaped. 



a. Head shielded. Preanal shield single. 



1. Typhline, Weigmann, Dum. et Bib. (not Typhlina, Wagler). 



Muzzle produced. Rostral covering half the head, keeled on 

 the edge, flat beneath, internasal very l)road, band-like, frontal 

 broad, crescent-like, interparietal triangular, parietals 2, oblique, 

 moderate. Limbs none. Nostril in the front of the side of the 

 rostral, with a long groove in its hinder edge. Preanal shield 

 single, semicircular. Eyes none, only slightly seen through the 

 skin. 



M. Bibron says this genus has no cephalic plates ; his animal 

 may be different. 



The Typhline. Typhline Cuvierii, Weigm. Herp. Mex. 11. 

 Dum. et Bib. E. G. v. 836. Gervais, Diet. Sci. Nat. Suppl. t. 

 Acontias coecus, Cuv. R. A. ii. 60. 



Yellow, with a violet spot on the hinder edge of the scales. 



a. Adult. Pale brown, with a purplish band across the hinder 

 part of each dorsal scale. Cape of Good Hope. 



6, c. Half-grown. Pale brown, nearly transparent. Cape of 

 Good Hope. Presented by Dr. John Lee. 



