The South AiLstrahan Naturalist. 51 



crescent-shaped and, placed wholly on the underside of the head, 

 much as is the mouth of a typical shark. Here however the 

 simile ends, for the teeth of blind snakes are few in number, 

 small in size and confined to the upper jaw; the tongue is forked 

 and white or pink in colour. It may be mentioned in passing 

 that, contrary to popular l)elief, the venom of a poisonous snake 

 is in no way connected with the tongue, which is used largely as 

 an investigating organ ; the poison is conveyed by means of 

 teeth or fangs which are perforated or grooved for the purpose. 



Colour is of little guide to the species of blind snakes, all 

 being very similar and of purplish-grey tint above and flesh 

 colour below. Some of our northern species have one or both 

 extremities black. 



Blind snakes live underground, in the mounds of white ants, 

 beneath rotting logs and m old sawdust heaps, the product of 

 bush timber mills. They should not be classed with harmful 

 snakes for they may be distinctly beneficial to man, feeding as 

 they do, largely upon white ants (Termites), eggs, larvae and 

 pupae of other insects. They often emit an objectionable odour 

 when disturbed, possibly as a protection against enemies, or it 

 may provide the means whereby the sexes find each other. 



When placed on sand or loose soil a blind snake quickly 

 burrows and disappears from sight. If held in the hand the 

 pressure of the snout as the snake tries to drive itself through the 

 Ush, is surprising, and when applied to the fissure between the 

 closed fingers its efforts can scarcely be resisted ; at the same time 

 the application of the thorn at the end of the tail against the 

 skin is quite pronounced. 



Blind snakes are found in warm countries, occurring in 

 southern Europe and Asia, Africa, Tropical America, Malaysia, 

 New Guinea and Australia. They probably occur throughout 

 Australia, but most species are known from settled areas. Nine- 

 teen are recognised, of which five occur in ^outh Australia ; they 

 are : — 



Tijphlops Huguiro.stris, T. piuguis, T. hituherculatus, T. 

 australis and T. endotcnis, the last-named being known only from 

 Central Australia. 



The names of the head shields are indicated in the accom- 

 panying diagram of the head of TijphJops ping ids. Permission 

 to use the figure is kindly granted by the Board of Governors of 



