156 



8. Fam. SciNCIDAE. 



Body covered with uniform cycloid, imbricate scales with 

 underlying 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- 

 parous; 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. Tillqua^ p. 156. 



/'. Supranasals present 2. Mabuia^ p. 1 58. 



II. Pterygoids in contact in front, the palatal notch 

 not extending to between the centre of the 

 eyes (fig. 67 li). 



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



2. Eyelid immovable, transparent, covering 



the eye 4. Ahlepharus^ p. 271. 



B. Tympanum exposed and superficial. 



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



II. Head well separated from the neck, covered 



with bony shields 6. Tribolonotus^ p. 280. 



Fig. 67. a. Palate uf Mabuia 7millifasciala (Kuhl); 



b. of Lygosoiiia olivaccuni (Gray). 



Nat. size. 



I. Tiliqua Gray. 



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

 Palatines in contact in the middle of the palate; pterygoids 



