FAMILY OPHIOSAURID®. ao 
the New-York Reptiles on the authority of Dr. Eights, who informed me that he had taken it 
near Fishkill, Dutchess county. I have since obtained it from Coldspring, Putnam county. 
It is common over the southern and western States ; is extremely active, moving with almost 
incredible celerity ; and when irritated in confinement, elevates its spinous scales in such a 
manner as to present a very formidable appearance. 
It inhabits in preference sandy and rocky situations ; and from its abundance in pine forests, 
has obtained the name of Pine Lizard. It is also called the Brown Scorpion, and its activity 
has doubtless suggested the name of Swift. 
It is perfectly harmless, notwithstanding its apparently venomous aspect. Like the Cha- 
meleon, and many other reptiles, it has the property of changing its color, the back assuming 
an azure tint; and by candle light, the blue stripes on the sides assume a dark brown or 
chesnut color. From the observations of Messrs. Say and Peale, it would seem that the 
bluish color beneath, and the white crucial mark, belong exclusively to the male. 
The Brown Swift is found throughout the west, and extends from the Gulf of Mexico to 
the forty-third degree of north latitude. 
(EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 
T. umbra. (Harwan, Med. and Phys. p. 140.) Burnt chesnut color; beneath pale ash; under side 
of neck deep blackish violet. Occiput spinous. Length 15 inches. Mexico. An Tropidolepis. ? 
FAMILY OPHIOSAURID. 
Scales as in the Scincide. Body more elongated, serpentiform. Feet small, rudimentary, varying 
wn number, four or two; these latter are either in front or behind. 
Oss. This family connects the order Sauria with the following. 
Genus Currores, Cuvier. Body slender, snake-like. Scales verticillate. Head obtuse. 'T'wo ante- 
rior feet only. 
C. lumbricoides. (Say, Long’s Exped. Vol. 1, p. 484.) With two short fore legs; four toes to each, 
and the rudiment of a fifth. Eyes small, 220 semi-rings on the body, and as many beneath. 
Length eight to ten inches. Missouri. 
Fauna — Parr 3. 
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