272 ZOOLOGY. 



serpents. T>v tliis character the Scincidcc arc (listinguishahle from the other 

 Saurians, excepthig the ClialcldUhn and Laroriidic. The rest of the body is 

 covered by ind)ricated and smooth scales, Avith round<,'d 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 tlds latter feature they 

 are distinguishable fiom the hdcertida., in which the ventral scales are 

 much larger than the dorsal, Avitli the outlines angular. The absence of a 

 furrow or lateral fold of skiti, extending along the flanks, as also the imbri- 

 cated or mailed scales, separates them froiii tlie ( 'li(dv}did(p. The spines 

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

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

 is fleshy, and usually covered with ])apill:\^ ; sometimes Avith scales, or filiform 

 appendages. 



The Srhicida- are variously distributed thrdughout the world. The largest 

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

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

 United States. 



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

 certain peculiarities about the eyes. 



»SV//>. Fain. Sanrop/i//i(d//i()i. Tins section is known by the possession 

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

 together so as completely to cover the eye. ]\Iost of the species are provided 

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

 be entirely deprived of these ai)pendages. None of them appear to have 

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

 is presented in the genus Acoidias, but one species of Avhich, A. meleagvis, 

 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«^. The eyes are very minute, and there 

 is but a single (inferior) eyelid. xVnother genus, Op/iiofnonis, resembling 

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

 apodal scinks is the blind or slow worm, Angiiis fragUis (pi. 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-Avorms. About 

 the end of August the female lays 8 to 1(3 eggs, from wliich 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 attenpt to bite. 



In the genera Ojdi'wde.t. Soridia, and Scelotes. Ave have the first external 

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

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

 American, the tAvo last South African. 



Anterior extremities first present themselves in tlie genus Evcsia, Avhcre, 



hoAvever. Avith the hind feet, they exist as mere stumps Avithout any toes. 



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



nearly equal toes, provided Avith claws. Bracliy.s/opns, a South African 



47G 



