The Worm-like Lizards 



The Worm Lizards — Family Amphisbcenidce: Differing from 

 the preceding family, which is small and covers but a limited area 

 in its distribution, the Amphishcriiidc€ comprises some ten 

 genera, these representing between sixty and seventy species 

 which are distributed over extensive areas in both the New and 

 the Old Worlds. Nearly forty species occur in the tropical 

 latitudes of the Western Hemisphere; four inhabit the regions 

 bounding the northern Mediterranean, and the remainder are 

 African. But one species occurs in North America. 



The largest genus of the family is South American — Amphis- 

 hcena. The majority of the species attain a length of about two 

 feet and a diameter of about an inch. All are strictly subter- 

 raneous, and though possessing but rudimentary eyes that are 

 covered by translucent scales and skin, are not strictly blind, 

 as they distinguish the presence of a hand waved over them and 

 will endeavour to bite. Captive specimens are quite hardy, and 

 while displaying a marked repugnance for the light, will live 

 indefinitely in a box that provides no medium in which to burrow. 

 They feed voraciously upon earthworms, slugs and small pieces 

 of raw beef. A gentleman from whom the writer has received 

 several specimens, explains that young individuals may often 

 be exhumed from ant-hills. 



A description is given of the only North American repre- 

 sentative of this family. 



THE WORM LIZARD 

 Rhineura floridana, (Baird) 



This reptile is limbless and worm-like in form, with scarcely 

 the diameter of a large earthworm, for which, at a glance, the 

 creature might readily be mistaken. The body presents a ringed, 

 segmented appearance. The head is of the same width as the 

 neck and is covered with shields; it lacks the presence of ex- 

 ternal eyes and ears. Very coarsely ringed and corrugated, 

 the tail is blunt and resembles the head in general outlines. 



Colouraticni. — In life this species is of a uniform lavender, 

 over which plays an iridescent bloom, varying in intensity in 

 different degrees of light. Preserved specimens quickly fade 

 to a pale and lustreless yellow. 



Dimensions. — The measurements of an averaged-sized spec- 

 imen are given: 



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