348 RELATIONSHIP OF THE GENUS ANNIELLA—BAUR. vol. xvii. 



am indebted to Prof. Rivers and Dr. L. Stejneger for the great kindness 

 they have shown me, by furnishing these valuable specimens. 



From the study of this material, I reach the following conclusion : 

 Anniella has to be placed in a separate family, very close tothe Angui- 

 dse, and has its closest relative in Angiiis itself. Boulenger's opinion 

 is nearest to the truth. Reasons: (1) There is a distinct epipterygoid 

 (columella). (2) There is a well-developed squamosal [supratemporal, 

 Parker and Bettany, Cope] ; but the quadrato- jugal [paroccipital, Cope] 

 is absent. (-3) The jugal is present, but rudimentary at its upper end, 

 being connected with the postorbital by ligament only. (4) The lachry- 

 mal is present, (o) There is a well-developed supraorbital. (6) The 

 caudal vertebriie are segmented, the segmentation being placed in the 

 anterior portion of the centrum. (7) Osteodermal plates are present. 



I shall now give a description of the skull and the other most impor- 

 tant elements of the skeleton, from which it will be evident that my 

 opinion about the relationship of Anniella is the only one which agrees 

 with the facts. Figures will be ]3ublished in a paper, now in prepara- 

 tion, "On the morphology of the skull of the Amphisbaenia." 



OSTEOLOGICAL CHARACTERS OF ANNIELLA. 



The skull. — The pmemaxillary is single, sending a median process 

 between the nasals. There are three processes on the lower side; one 

 median, two lateral ones. The median j)rocess extends between the 

 anterior ends of the vomer; the lateral processes are connected with 

 the maxillaries, by which they are embraced on the outer side. The 

 nasals are distinct; they are in connection with the prjiemaxillary, fron- 

 tals, maxillaries ; they are separated above from the prefrontals by a very 

 slender anterior process of the frontals. There are two froutals, in con- 

 nection with the nasals, i>refrontals, postfrontals, and parietals; the 

 descending processes are strong and meet below, uuderarching the olfac- 

 tory lobes. The parietal is single and very large; it is in connection 

 with the frontals, postfrontals, petrosals, squamosals, paroccipitals, and 

 supraoccipital. There is no pineal foramen; but the dark pineal eye is 

 quite distinct in the anterior portion of the parietal, and the pineal 

 fossa is present on the lower side of the parietal. Tlie parietals are 

 bent down strongly. There are two small processes behind close to the 

 median line. The outer and posterior ends of the parietal show short 

 processes, which are placed on the petrosals, and on which the anterior 

 end of the squamosal rests. The supraoccipital is closely united by 

 suture with the parietal. There is a median process and two lateral proc- 

 esses, on each side of the median, all united with the parietal. Two 

 very small vacuities between parietal and supraoccipital, close to the 

 median line, are present. The supraoccipital is connected, besides, with 

 the exoccipitals, paroccipitals, and petrosals. The foramen magnum is 

 bordered by the basioccipital, exoccipitals, a nd supraoccipital. The con- 

 dyle is convex, quite simple, and formed by the basioccipitals and exoc- 



