216 REPTILES OF THE WORLD 



larvae and white "ants" or termites; gorged specimens 

 are often dug out of ants' nests. 



The average length of snakes of this family is from 

 ten to twelve inches. Their prevailing coloration is pale 

 to dark brown above, either uniform or longitudinally 

 streaked ; most of the species lack any trace of markings. 

 They appear to be the surviving remnants of but little 

 specialized ancient serpents ; they tell the story of a once 

 widely distributed group: for members of the present 

 family are found in all semi-tropical and tropical parts 

 of the world — even on isolated islands lost in vast 

 stretches of ocean, these the probable points of former 

 continents. Typhlops is the largest genus, containing 

 nearly a hundred species — queer little cylindrical, glassy 

 creatures that look precisely alike to the novice, but may 

 be easily separated by the technical herpetologist who 

 considers the arrangement of the head shields and counts 

 the rows of scales around the body. The species are 

 found in Mexico, Central and South America, through- 

 out the West Indies, in southern Europe, southern Asia, 

 the Malay Archipelago, Africa and Australia. Despite 

 their lowly form they are surprisingly quick when ex- 

 humed from their burrows. If dug out of sand a spec- 

 imen must be instantly grasped, as it literally swims 

 back into the soft medium. When an example is held 

 in one's fingers the tiny mouth opens and shuts in a 

 ludicrous attempt at intimidation. As captives, the 

 various species are uninteresting. Unless provided with 

 soil in which to burrow, they soon die ; if thus provided, 

 they at once bore their way out of sight. 



The Family Glauconiidce is composed of little snakes 

 closely resembling the members of the preceding family 

 in external outlines, scalation and probable antecedents. 

 Like the Typhlopidce, the skull is simple; the lower jaw 



