102 TTPHLOPID.i:. 



Small worm-like Snakes leadiug a subterranean life, feeding 

 principally on worms. Found in rotten trees, in the sawdust of 

 saw-mills, and in the ground. Oviparous ; eggs very large, 

 elongate, few in number. 



A single genus in the Malay Peninsula. 



Genus TYPHLOPS. 

 Sdmeid. Hist. Amph. ii, p. 339 (1801). 



Head with large shields ; nostril in a single or divided nasal. 

 Tail extremely short. 



Southern Asia, borders of the Mediterranean, Africa, Australia, 

 Central and South America and West Indies. 



Six species are recorded from the Malay Peninsula, where they 

 are known as tdar tana, " earth-snakes." 



Synoj^sis of the S_pecies. 



I. No prjeocuiar ; ocular in contact with the 



second and third labials ; 22 scales round 



body T, Uneatus, p. 102, 



II. A prjEOCular, in contact Avitli the second 



and third labials. 



A. 1 8 or 20 scales round bod3^ 



Both nasals completely separated and extending 



to upper surface of head ; 20 scales round 



body T. hrmnimis, p. 103. 



The two nasals fused above the nostril ; 18 



scales round body T. albicej^s, p. 103. 



B. 24 or 26 scales round body. 



A rounded concavity on eacli side below the rp_ 104. 



nostril T. bothriorliynchus, 



No concavity below tlie nostril T. niyroalbus, p. 104. 



III. A prfBocular, separated from the labials 

 b}' a small shield ; 24 scales round 



body 2\ mutilatus, p. 105. • 



108. Typhlops lineatus. 



Boie, Isid, 1827, p. 563; Bouleng. Cat. Sn. i, p. 15 (1893). 

 Pilidion lincatum, Ciiutor, Jouru. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, xvi, p. 897 



(1847). 

 Typhlina lineata Giiuth. IJept. Brit. Ind. p. 171, pi. xvi, fig. B 



(1864). 



Snout rounded, sti-ongly projecting, flat inferiorly ; nostrils 

 inferior. Kostral very large ; nasal semidivided, the cleft pro- 

 ceeding from the first labial ; a single large shield (the ocular) on 

 each side behind the nasal ; eyes hidden ; pra^frontal, supra- 

 oculars, and frontals large, transverse ; 4 upper labials. Dia- 

 meter of body 40 to 60 times in total length ; tail about as long 



