272 ZOOLOGY. 



serpents. By this character the ^^cincidce are distinguishable from the other 

 Saurians, excepting the Chalcididm and Lacertidcc. The rest of the body is 

 covered by imbricated and smooth scales, ■with romided margins arranged 

 in quincunx, much as in fishes : those of the belly and sides are nearly of 

 the same shape and size as those of the back. By this latter feature they 

 are distinguishable from the Lacertklcv^ in ■which the ventral scales are 

 much larger than tlic dorsal, ■svith the outlines angular. The absence of a 

 furrow or Lateral fold of skin, extending along the fianks, as also the imbri- 

 cated or mailed scales, separates them from the Clialc'idida'. The spines 

 and crests of other Saurians are never found in this family. The tongue is 

 free, broad, not playing in a sheath, and slightly emarginate anteriorly. It 

 is fleshy, and usually covered ■with papilU^ ; sometimes with scales, or filiform 

 appendages. 



The ScmcidcB are variously distributed throughout the ■world. The largest 

 number of species is found in Australia, then Asia, next Africa, and finally 

 America. Europe counts but six species. Five species are found in the 

 United States. 



The ftxmily may conveniently be divided into three sub-families, according to 

 certain peculiarities about the eyes. 



Sub. Fam. Scairophthalmoi. This section is known by the possession 

 of movable eyelids, ■which, as in most air-breathing vertebrata, can come 

 together so as completely to cover the eye. Most of tlie species are provided 

 "with four feet ; some, however, have but two, while others again appear to 

 be entirely deprived of these appendages. None of them appear to have 

 inguinal or femoral pores. The lowest form of the Saurophthalrnian Scinks 

 is presented in the genus Acontias, but one species of which, A. meleogris, 

 a native of South Africa, is known to naturalists. With a striking resem- 

 blance to a serpent, in the absence of feet and of a tympanic orifice, it has 

 most of the characters of the Scincid^e. The eyes are very minute, and there 

 is but a single (inferior) eyelid. Another genus, Ophiomorus, resembling 

 the last, is found in Southern Europe. The best known representative of the 

 apodal scinks is the blind or slow worm, Anguis fragilis {pi. 1'i,fig. 68, and 

 pi. SI, Jig. 1). This beautiful animal is found in various parts of Europe, 

 making its appearance early in the spring, and retiring to winter quarters 

 about October. Its food consists principally of slugs and earth-worms. About 

 the end of August the female lays 8 to 16 eggs, from Avhich the young escape 

 very shortly after their deposit, development having proceeded for a considera- 

 ble time in the oviduct. The animal is perfectly innocuous, and never makes 

 any attempt to bite. 



In the genera Ophiodes, Sorklia, and Scelotes, we have the first external 

 indications of feet, in the form of two feeble posterior extremities, Avhich exhibit 

 a division into toes in the latter genus only. The first of these is South 

 American, the two last South African. 



Anterior extremities first present themselves in the genus Evesia, where, 



however, with the liind feet, they exist as mere stumps without any toes. 



In Nessia, each foot, although still very rudimentary, is terminated by three 



nearly equal toes, provided with claws. Brachysiopus, a South African 



47G 



