ANGUIANS. 235 



on each superior maxillary, and eight on each premandibular bone ; of 

 these the first is short, and the second and third teeth are the longest. 



Anguians. — The typical blind- worms have only maxillary and 

 not palatine teeth. In the Anguis fragilis the first five of 

 the upper teeth on each side are small, with cutting edges, and are 

 situated on the intermaxillaries ; the eight following teeth are much 

 larger, pointed and recurved ; they are separated by intervals : the 

 teeth of the lower jaw correspond with those above. In general 

 form, therefore, the teeth of the true Anguis adhere to the Ophidian 

 type : but in the Ophiomerus, or miliary blind-worm, and in the 

 Acontias they are conical, obtuse and straight : the teeth are likewise 

 simple and conical in the sub-genera Lerista, Ablepharus, Hysteropus, 

 Dibamus, Typhlinus, and the rest of the family of blind- worms. 



The Pseudopus Pallasii has sixteen teeth on each side of the 

 upper and twelve teeth on each side of the lower jaw ; the latter form 

 a continuous series ; but a median interval separates the two lateral 

 series in the upper jaw. In both jaws the anterior teeth are conical 

 and obtuse, the hinder ones present a hemispherical triturating crown. 

 The palate, in this genus, is armed with teeth which are small, conical 

 and simple ; and are arranged in one moderately long row on each 

 side. 



The glass -snakes (Ophisaurus) have both jaws provided with a 

 close-set row of small simple teeth ; and very remarkably repeat a 

 dental character observable in certain Batrachians, especially the newts 

 of the same continent to which these Ophisaurs are peculiar, viz. in 

 having teeth at the roof of the mouth disposed in several rows, here 

 chiefly supported by the pterygoids, and, in a small proportion, by 

 the palatine bones. The teeth composing this palatal pavement are 

 short and conical ; the maxillary teeth are subcyUndrical and simple. 

 There are about twenty teeth on each side of the upper, and eighteea 

 teeth on each side of the lower jaw, (PI. 65, fig. 5). 



In the Pantodactylus the palatal teeth have not been detected ; 

 and the maxillary teeth are slightly compressed, with a tricuspid 

 crown. The intermaxillaries are conical and simple. These teeth are 

 close-set and equal. 



The Ecpleopus has a similar dentition to the Pantodactylus, ex- 



