388 Dr. A. Stra\(cKs Catalogue of Geckos. 



and in an apodal Scincoid; they are sufficient to show that even 

 in these limbless forms this organ affords a good systematic 

 character. 



My nameless groups are only established in the key to the 

 families simply to facilitate the determinations and to avoid 

 useless repetition ; had I considered them natural groups I 

 would have bestowed names upon them. 



The family Anguidas, as defined in the Catalogue, appears 

 to Dr. Strauch a most unnatural association. Here, however, 

 the osteological characters are accompanied by striking ex- 

 ternal ones, which Dr. Strauch, like most of his predecessors, 

 appears to have overlooked. I will only allude to the won- 

 derful similarity in the scaling of the head of Anguis and 

 Ojjhisaurus (Pseudopus) , unlike anything to be found in the 

 family of Seines, and to the fact that the scales of the sides of 

 Anguis are arranged in straight transverse series, and not 

 quincuncially, a fact already noticed by Leydig (Deutschl. 

 Saur. 1872). 



I fail to understand how it can be proposed to place Flelo- 

 derma and Anguis in two suborders, the former in tlie Pachy- 

 glossa, the latter in the Leptoglossa. The following figures, 

 carefully executed from nature, will allow the reader to judge 

 for himself: — 



a. Tongue of Heloderma horndmn (one of Strauch's Pachyglossa). 



b. Tongue oi Anguis frugilis, enlarged (one of Strauch's Leptoglossa). 



