Chapter III 



APODA— LIMBLESS BATRACHIANS 



The Apoda are worm-like, burrowing creatures, entirely 

 devoid of limbs, or even their internal rudiments, without 

 or with only the rudiment of a tail. The entire body, 

 which is generally perfectly cylindrical, sometimes slightly 

 compressed or depressed, is marked with numerous ring- 

 like grooves. 



In some forms scales are found embedded under the 

 skin, which is smooth and has always a naked appearance. 

 The eyes are minute and covered, in most species, with 

 skin, some species being completely blind. 



The Apoda possess neither ear-opening nor tympanum. 

 They are all provided with a short, retractile, cone-shaped ~ 

 tentacle, a sensory organ, situated between the eye and 

 the tip of the snout. 



The members of this order inhabit Tropical Africa and 

 America, South-Eastern Asia, and the Seychelles ; they 

 are most frequently found under damp earth, and conse- 

 quently most abundant in swampy districts. Some forms 

 lay eggs, while others bring forth their young alive. 



The complete development of Icthyophis glutinosus, of 



Ceylon and South-Eastern Asia, has been studied by 



the cousins Sarasin. The eggs, which are of very large size 



and which form a rosary-like string, are deposited in holes 



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