80 scixciD.i;. 



longitudinal series o£ stroiagly keeled ventral shields. 1 or 2 

 inguinal pores on each side. Grreenish or brownish above, with 

 metallic gloss ; a more or less distinct whitish, black-edged streak 

 from the supraciliary edge along each side of the back to the base 

 of the tail ; the black band bordering the light streak produced 

 along the side of the head; sides frequently with small round 

 light spots ; lower parts yellowish or greenish. 



From snout to vent 60 millini. ; tail 285. 



From Southern China and the Eastern Himalayas to the Malay 

 Peninsula and Archipelago. Fairly common in the more northern 

 parts of the Peninsula as far south as Taiping, where it is called 

 " Benkarong Ular," or Snake-lizard. According to Annandale, 

 it runs about on the top of the long grass ; apparently the 

 great length of its bodj^, produced chiefly by the remarkable extent 

 of the tail, saves it from breaking the grass or falling through to 

 the ground. When chased, it seeks safety by diving, so to speak, 

 down through the grass to the ground. 



Family SClNCIDiE. 



Skull with bony postorbital and postfronto-squamosal arches, 

 with bony dermal plates roofing over the supratemporai fossae ; 

 prfemaxillaries distinct; nasals distinct; parietal single; a fibrj^ 

 cartilaginous interorbital septum ; a columella cranii. Dentition 

 pleurodont ; palate often toothed. Clavicle dilated, usuallj'- 

 perforated proximally ; interclavicle cruciform. 



Tongue flat, moderately elongate, nicked in front, covered with 

 rhomboidal scale-like indjricate papiilre. Pupil round ; eyelids 

 usually well developed. Head covered with large symmetrical 

 shields. Body protected by bony plates underlying the scales, 

 which are cycloid or cyclo-hexagonal, imbricate, arranged quin- 

 cuncially above and beneath. Limbs more or less developed or 

 absent. No femoral pores. Tail usually long, fragile. 



The family of Scinks includes terrestrial and arboreal forms, 

 inhabiting all the Avarmer parts of the world. They are as a rule 

 ovoviviparous, but some of the species of Mahuia lay soft-shelled 

 eggs. 



Only two genera have representatives in the Malay Peninsula: — 



Ptervgoid bones separated in the middle line of the 

 palate, the palatal notch ecteudiDg anteriorly to 

 an imaginary line connecting centres of eyes ; 

 dorsal scales usually with se-veral keels in the 

 Malayan species Mabuia, p. 8"2. 



Pterygoid bones in contact in front, the palatal 

 notch not extending to betwreen centres of eyes ; 

 dorsal scales usually smooth in the Malayan 

 species Lygosoma, p. 85. 



