REl'TILIA. 21 ?> 



reptile, has the anterior feet without toes, the posterior uith two each. This 

 case is exactly reversed in the f!;enus Bracliymeles, where the anterior feet 

 have two toes, the posterior none. In the Australian C/ielotneles, each foot 

 has two toes ; Avhile Heteromdes (from Algiers) has two toes on the fore, and 

 three on the hind feet. >SV/^.f, represented by a single species. S. cJiulcides 

 {pi. 87, fig. 6), a native of Southern Eui-ope, exhibits three toes on each, 

 rather weak, foot. In Tetradactijliis we fiml four toes on each foot ; 

 in Campsodactyliis, five toes in front, ami four behind ; and in Huteropns. 

 four in front, and five behind. Finally, Tradiysannts and Gongyhis 

 have five toes to each foot. The above illusti-ations, fiir from em- 

 bracing the whole of the iSciiicidcc, may serve as an indication of the 

 great variety of structure and appearance, presented by this extensive 

 fjxmily. 



To us, the most interesting genera of Saurophthalmian scinlcs are Phstio- 

 don and Lygosoma, these being the only ones Avhich are found in the United 

 States. The species, of various size, are known in the Southern States, indis- 

 criminately, as scorpions, and dreaded as venomous. They are, however, 

 like all reptiles, excepting a few serpents, perfectly free from any such 

 properties, although the larger individuals may be capable of inflicting a 

 severe bite. Only one species, Plestiodon fasciatus, is found in the North, 

 the rest rarely occurring north of Maryland. The largest species, P. ameri- 

 canris, sometimes attains a length of 25 inches. The smaller species are usually 

 found about old logs, their food consisting of minute insects. Plestiodon 

 aldrovandii, an Egyptian species, is represented in jü. 81, fig. 31. The 

 genus iSrincus, as at present restricted, embraces but a single species, /S'. 

 qffidnalis {pi. 89, fig. 4). This animal, a native of Northern Africa, has 

 been celebrated from the time of Plinj^, for certain supposed medicinal virtues, 

 for which reason it was Ions considered as one of the most valuable articles of 

 the pharmacopoeia, and even now is kept by the druggists of Southern Europe. 

 It was supposed to be effectual in all eruptive diseases, but the chief applica- 

 tion Avas as an aphrodisiac. Goiigylus ocdlutiis {pi. 14:, fig. 71) is a common 

 European reptile. 



The second sub-family of ^Sdiiddm is that of the Ophioplithalmoi, in which 

 the eyes, like those of serpents, are either entirely deprived of eyelids, or 

 else have these in the form of a narrow ring, partly or entirely surrounding 

 the eye. Two of the species exhibit a series of pores along the anterior 

 margin of the cloaca ; none, however, have femoral pores. Most of the species 

 are natives of New Holland. The genus Hysteropu.'i, with a highly ser- 

 pentiform body, is Avithout fore-feet, the posterior being very feeble, and 

 flattened, without any division into fingers. {H. novcc hollandia' is repre- 

 sented in jü. 74, fig. 68.) Other genera have four feet, variously provided 

 with toes. 



The third and last sub-family, the Typlilophthahnol, comprises species 

 which are perfectly blind, having the eyes so minute as to be entirely rudi- 

 mentary. Tliere are but two species known, one, Dibaimts novoe-guinecc, with 

 posterior remiform feet, the other, Typldine curierii, an inhabitant of South 

 Africa. Avithout any feet Avhatever. 



477 



