CROCODILIANS, LIZARDS, AND SNAKES. CyGl 



Remarks. — This [>elvic element is probably the iliopectineal element 

 of Fiirbringer. The pelvis diS'ers from that of Anelytropfiis [antea) in 

 the absence of iliac element. 



ANKLYTROPSIS Cope. 



Anelytropsis Cope, Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc, XXII, 1885, p. 380. — Boulexger, (at. 

 Liz. Brit. Mus,, 2d ed., II, p. 430. 



Rostral plate capping muzzle, the nostril at the junction of its pos- 

 terior border with the suture separating the loreal and first labial. No 

 frontonasal nor supraorbital plates. Three plates on top of head, 

 which should probably be identified as anterior and posterior frontal 

 and parietal. Eye scarcely visible through the single ocular plate. 

 Scales equal, smooth. Vent not terminal. No limbs. No preaual 

 pores. 



This genus only differs from Feylinia Gray {=A)ielytrop.s Hallo well) 

 in the arrangement of the lateral plates of the muzzle. In that genus 

 and Typhlosounis, the only other genus of the family, the rostral plate 

 is as in Acontias; that is, divided longitudinally on each side by a fis- 

 sure which extends from the nostril posteriorly. Whether the internal 

 characters differ remains to be ascertained.' I give the genus the 

 name Anelytropsis in order to justify the family name Anelytropida*. 

 This will produce no confusion, as the name Anelytrops was given by 

 Hallo well to the genus which had previously been named Feylinia, and 

 as a synonym disappears from view. 



The present form is essentially interesting as a representative of the 

 family of the Anelytropidie, or the Typhlophthalm lizards with the eye 

 entirely concealed, and with the tongue scaly. The importance of this 

 discovery is considerable, as it shows that the scincoid lizards have 

 undergone in the New World the same degenerative process as in the 

 Old World, and in the same way. This is a new fact, even supposing that 

 the Anniellidic of America are a degenerate form of the same familj-, 

 which is not probable. Dr. Bouleuger believes that that family is a 

 degenerate type of the Anguid stem — a view in which I suspect he is 

 correct. Anelytropsis is a degree farther down in the scale than 

 AnnieUa, in having the epidermis absolutely continuous over the eye, as 

 in other members of the family of Anelytropidie, and as in the Typli- 

 lopid family of snakes. As in other forms of this character, the life of 

 this type is doubtless subterranean, which accounts for its having so 

 long escaped observation. 



'I have given tlie skeletal characters of Fei/linia and TypMosaurus, Proc. Acad. 

 Nat. Sci. Phila., 1864, p. 224. 



