686 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1898. 



rod on each side of and anterior to the vent, which is connected with 

 the extremities of two ribs by ligament only. This is the ileopectiueal 

 bone of Fiirbringer. No trace of posterior limb. 



Teeth simple, conic; situated on premaxillary, maxillary, and dentary 

 bones only. Premaxillary with but one, a median tooth. 



The genus Lepidosternnm, as typified by the L. octostegmn, differs 

 from Rhineura in that the nasal bones are excluded from the narial 

 borders by the maxillary, and from contact with each other by the pro- 

 longed si)ine of the premaxillary. In both of these points Rhineura 

 agrees with Amphisbcvna. In Lepidosternum also there is a Meckelian 

 groove, and the angle is turned vertically downward. In Amphishcena 

 (fuliginosa) there is a groove and no angle. 



RHINEURA FLORIDANA Baird. 



Mhineura floridana Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1861, p. 75. — Bocourt, Miss. 



Sci. Mex., Rept., 1882, p. 491, pi. xxix I, fig. 1.— Boulengek, Cat. Liz. Brit. 



Mus., II, 1885, p. 460. 

 Lepidosternon floridanum Baird, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1858, p. 255. — 



Strauch, M61. Biol. Ac. St. P6ter8b., XI, p. 460. 



Fig. 141. 

 Rhineura floridana Baird. 



Florida. 



Collection of E. D. Cope. 



Body as thick as a large goose quill or larger. A large pentagonal 

 plate on top of the head, encircled by nine others; the rostrum ending 

 in a broad horizontal crescent overhanging the mouth. No ears. Tail 

 one eighteenth the body ; much depressed ; its upper surface with the 

 whorls covered by large tubercles set in smaller ones instead of by 

 square flat plates. 



Color yellowish white; in spirits; rose colored in life. 



Body resembling somewhat a large Ascam, white worm, in its uniform 

 yellowish white color, absence of limbs, ears, aiul eyes, and succession 

 of rings encircling it from head to tail. The head is contained about 

 thirty-three times in the head and body and twice in the tail. It is 

 ovoidal above, much depressed, the rostrum broad and i)rojecting con- 

 siderably beyond the lower jaw both terminally and laterally. A broad 

 cresceutic plate forms the tip of the rostrum. This may possibly be the 

 frontal plate. Beneath this i)late is a rostral which connects it with 



