138 



SAURIA. — SCINCID.E. 



already remarked, a beautiful and interesting link 

 between the Lizards and the Snakes; but their 

 whole anatomical structure, and other peculiari- 

 ties manifest that their true affinities are with 

 the former rather than the latter. 



The technical characters of the genus Anguis 

 are as follows : the body and tail are cylindrical 

 and obtuse; the scales are smooth, overlapping, 

 nearly equal on the upper and under parts ; the 

 head is covered with about nine larger plates; 



the drum of the ear {tympa- 

 num) is concealed beneath the 

 skin, but communicating with 

 the air, according to MM. Du- 

 meril and Bibron, by a minute 

 linear orifice ; the teeth of the 

 v^ jaws are hooked and compres- 

 sed; there are none on the 

 palate ; the eyes are furnished 

 with three lids ; there is no 

 Head op slow-worm, external trace of limbs, but the 



bones of the shoulders and of 

 the pelvis exist in a rudimentary form. 



The common Slow-worm {Anguis fragilis, 

 Linn.) is often called the Blind-worm, from the 

 minuteness of its eyes, which are, however, sharp 

 and brilliant. The former appellation refers to 

 the sluggishness of its movements, and the spe- 

 cific term fragilis, to the brittleness of its body, 

 when the muscles are contracted from sudden 

 fear. If laid hold of and pursued, instead of 

 attempting to escape or to defend itself, it con- 

 tracts itself to such a degree of rigidity as to be 

 easily snapped in two. 



Twelve inches may be considered the average 



