CHAPTER Ti: 
THE BLIND BURROWING SNAKES. 
(Blind Delgend Slang.) 
FAMILY I.—TYPHLOPID&. 
THESE snakes are small and worm-like in appearance, with 
cylindrical bodies and blunt tails. They are covered with tiny 
closely-fitting scales, and their eyes are more or less rudimentary. 
They burrow in the ground, especially in soft loamy and sandy 
soils, and feed upon small lizards, ants, larvee, worms, beetles and 
other insects. They are usually found under stones, loose soil, 
and decaying leaves and wood. Occasionally, after a shower of 
rain, they appear above ground in search of insects, which issue 
forth from their retreats at this time. The jaws of this family of 
snakes are not capable of much distension, as is the case with the 
more highly evolved or specialized snakes, consequently they 
cannot swallow large prey. Their upper jaws are armed with 
small, sharp teeth, but the lower jaws are toothless. They are all 
quite non-venomous and can be safely handled. They make nice 
pets, and soon grow very tame, and thrive if kept in a box con- 
taining sand in which they may burrow, and supplied with water 
and insects, especially ants and their larve. If the cage be 
placed out in the sun they come up to the surface to bask, their 
bodies glittering like burnished metal. 
All the different species lay eggs, which are large in proportion 
to the size of the snake. This family of snakes, and the following 
family (Glauconid@) constitute the link between the more highly- 
specialized snakes and lizards from which snakes have evolved. 
There are over 100 species or kinds of Typhlops snakes inhabiting 
various parts of the world, ten of which live in South Africa, south 
of the Zambesi. These Burrowing Snakes still possess rudiments 
