50 Ihe South Australian Naturalist. 



Blind snakes are usually small, averaging about a foot in 

 length, but some species attain to more than twice that size; they 

 have cylindrical bodies of fairly uniform thickness throughout 

 or somewhat thickened toAvards the tail, the diameter of which 

 may be greater than that of any other part. The tail terminates 

 A'ery 'abruptly, the scales rapidly converging to, and ending in a 

 point which is inclined dowuAvards; during progression this 

 point is pressed against the ground and acts as a fulcrum. The 

 resistance thus obtained is apparently necessary, for the scales 

 are highly ]M)lished and offer little resistance to the passage of 

 the snake through the soil. The majority of snakes have broad 

 belly scales, the free edges of which may catch in some irregu- 

 larity in the ground ; blind snakes have no such scales, those on 

 the belly being as closely adpressed, and polished as elsewhere on 

 the bod}^ and, in size and conformation, indistinguishable from 

 them. The rows of body scales are so uniformly disposed that 

 their number forms an excellent character, in conjunction with 

 other features, for specific identification. Owing to their small 

 size, and polished surface (which reflects the light to a dazzling 

 degree), their uniformity and the roundness of the body, it is 

 sometimes difficult to count in how many rows the scales are 

 placed. I have spent many hours at this somew^hat passive 

 amusement ! and found the process facilitated by sticking into 

 the body, at different parts of the circumference, two or three 

 small entomological pins and counting from pin to pin, when the 

 body may be rotated to include the next pin ; even this is not so 

 easy as might be inferred, for the liquid preservative oozes 

 through the pin hole and floods the small scales, the edges of 

 which cannot then be seen. A watchmaker's glass used in the 

 eye not only enlarges the apparent size of the scales, but allows 

 both hands free for turning the body of the snake. The head is 

 covered with similar scales, broken only at the mouth, for there 

 is neither external eye nor ear. The eyes are rudimentary, but 

 show with greater or less clearness through the covering scales; 

 it is probable that the" visual sensations of blind snakes are little 

 more than a p^erception of the difference between darkness and 

 light ; the scientific name of the genus is Typhlops, a word 

 meaning "blind." The diameter of the head is usually less 

 than that of the body into M'hich it merges without indication of 

 a neck. The scales on the head are larger than those of the body 

 and are arranged in definite order, but differ in shape and relative 

 size in the several species; it is by means of the character of 

 these scales or plates, in conjunction with the number of rows of 

 body scales, that the snakes are determined. The mouth is small, 



