156 



8. Fam. SciNClDAE. 



Body covered with uniform cycloid, imbricate scales with 

 underlyiiiLj bony plates; these plates with symmetrical tubules. 

 Head with large symmetrical shields. Tongue flat, bifid behind, 

 nicked in front, covered with rhomboidal imbricate papillae 

 (fig. 1.6); pleurodont. Eye with round pupil, eyelids usually 

 well-developed. Ear distinct or covered with scales. Limbs 

 present or absent. No femoral or praeanal pores. Tail generally 

 long, fragile. Terrestrial and arboreal forms, usually ovovivi- 

 parousj the eggs, when laid, are soft-shelled. 



Key to the Indo-Australian genera. 



A. Tympanum, when distinct, more or less sunk. 



I. Pterygoids separated in the middle line of the 

 palate, the palatal notch extending anteriorly 

 to a line connecting the centre of the eyes 



(fig- 67 a). 



a. No supranasals I. Tiliqua.^ p. 156. 



/'. Supranasals present 2. Mabiiia^ p. 158. 



II. Pterygoids in contact in front, the palatal notch 

 not extending to between the centre of the 

 eyes (fig. 67 /'). 



1. Eyelids movable 3. Lygosoina^ p. 164. 



2. Eyelid immovable, transparent, covering 



the eye 4. Abkpharus^ p. 271. 



/>. Tympanum exposed and superficial. 



I. Head normal 5. Tropidophorus^ p. 275. 



II. Head well separated from the neck, covered 



with bony shields 6. Tiibolonotus^ p. 280. 



Fig. 67. a. Palate of Mabuia viultifasciala (Kuhl); 



b. of Lygosoina olivaceum (Gray). 



Nat. size. 



I. Tiliqua Gray. 



(Okay, Ann. Phil. (2) X p. 201, 1825). 

 Palatines in contact in the middle of the palate; pterygoids 



