:n 



Ml'HOXOPa 



SIPHONOPS. 



m 



SerproU, that the greater number of author* have arranged them in 

 the order Ophidian*. 



The character* which lead to the clarification of these reptiles into 

 one family, and to their separation from all others, are, 1st, a body 

 extremely extended in length, and of a cylindrical shape ; 2nd, the 

 abaenoo of limbs or lUsral appendage* proper for locomotion ; 3rd 

 a skin naked in appearance and viscous, but concealing between the 

 circular folds which it forms many row* or rings of flat delicate 

 imbricated scales, with free and rounded borders, resembling those of 





Scale* of Greilia albiraitrii. 



the greater part of the fishes ; 4th, the rounded orifice of their cloaca 

 situated below, Tery near the posterior extremity of the body, which 

 is sometimes truncaU-d as it were, and rounded sometimes obtusely 

 pointed, as in the genus TyjMopi ; 5th, their head, as in all the 

 Batrachians, is articulated to the npine by means of two distinct and 

 separate condyles; 6th, their lower jaw moves upon the cranium 

 without any separate articular bone, and the two branches which form 

 it are short and very solidly soldered together towards the symphyais 

 of the chin. 



The bodies of the vertebra of the Caccilioidians are doubly excavated 

 into cones, instead of being concave before and convex behind. Their 

 tongue is large, papillose, fixed by its borders upon the gums in the 

 concavity of the jaw, and not protractile, nor forked, nor susceptible 

 of entering into a sheath. 



Professor Owen observes, that n the extinct family of the 

 Labyrinthodonte, the Batrachian type of organisation was modified 

 so as to lead directly from that order to the highest form of reptiles, 

 namely, the Loricate or Crocodilian Saurians ; that some of the existing 

 edentulous genera of the Bufonida; connect the Batrachian with the 

 l 'Ill-Ionian order, and that the family founded upon the Linnjean genus 

 t'<rcilia forms the transition to the Ophidian reptiles. "The cha- 

 racters," says the Professor, " which retain the Ccecilice in the 

 Batrachian order are generally known, and may be briefly enumerated 

 a* the double occipital condyle, the biconcave vertebra, the smooth 

 mucous integument with minute and concealed scales, and the 

 branchial aperture* retained by the young some time after their 

 birth. In the fixed tympanic pedicle, and the anchylosed symphysis 

 of the lower jaw, the Cactlia are also far removed from the typical 

 Ophidian structures ; but the teeth, in their length, slenderness, 

 sharp points, wide intervals, and diminished number, begin to 

 exhibit the characters of the dental system of the Serpent tribe." 

 (' Odontography.') 



The departure in a degree of the Caccilioidians from the Batrachians 

 is marked by the presence of small scales ; by ribs which are forked 

 at their vertebral extremity, and much more distinct than in the genus 

 Pleurodcla ; by the absence of a sternum ; and especially by the form 

 and structure of the mouth, the aperture of which is small, the lower 

 jaw being shorter than the upper, and the teeth long, sharp, and 

 generally curved backwards. 



The Ctocilioidians resemble many species of the osseous fishes of 

 the division of the Munenida: in the form and structure of the 

 skeleton, the articulation of the jaws, the mode of implantation of 

 the teeth, &c. ; but the mode of junction of- the head with the spine 

 by means of two condyles, the presence of lungs and nostrils, which 

 open distinctly within the cavity of the mouth, and the entire absence 

 of branching remove these animals from that class. [O:< II.IID-E.] 



With regard to tho teeth of the Ciccilians, Professor Owen states 

 that they are implanted in a single row upon the maxillary, inter- 

 maxillary, and palatine bones, the upper jaw being thus provided 

 with two semi-elliptical snd sub-concentric series; that there are also 

 two rows of equal-sized teeth on the premandibular bones of the 

 lower jaw in certain species. Tho Circtlia, he remarks, is the last 

 example in the ascending survey which ho has taken of the dental 

 system of this disposition of teeth, which was so common in the class 

 of Fithe*. 



"There are," write* the Professor, "20 teeth in tho anterior or 

 outer premandibular row in the lumbricoid and white-bellied Cacilite, 

 and 10 or 12 of much smaller size in the second row. There are 20 

 teeth in the outer row of the upper jaw, of which 6 are supported by 

 the intermaxillaries, and 16 in the inner or palatine row. All these 

 teeth are long, slender, scute, and slightly recurved. In the Rostrated 

 the first two teeth of the maxillary and preirfandibular series 

 are longer and stronger than the rest ; they are succeeded by small 

 and recurved teeth ; the median margins of the palatal bones are 

 bristled with small teeth ; the second row in tho lower jaw is repre- 

 sented by two .iiif.ll recurved teeth on the internal border of the 

 premandibular bone*. In the modification of the dental system 

 presented by this species may be perceived a retention of the Batra- 

 chian type. The Annulated Cacilia (Siphonopt annulaliu) has the 

 maxillary and palatine teeth strong, pointed, and slightly recurved. 

 In the Glutinous and Two- Handed Ottilia: (Epicrium) the teeth are 

 slender, acute, and more inclined backward*, thus approaching nearer 

 to the Ophidian type; in the latter species (Kpicrium (Rhinatrtma) 



6iriWo/m) the palatal series, instead of ranging concentrically with 

 the outer row, is chevron-shaped with the angle turned forwards and 

 rounded off The teeth of the Oreilia are sub-traniparent ; their 

 intimate structure corresponds with that of the frog's tooth- Lul 

 their mode of implantation resembles that of the teeth of the Laby- 

 rinthodonts, the base being anchylosed to the parietes of a shallow 

 alveolus." (' Odontography.') 



Head of Cacilia liimbricoijea. 



The genus Siphonopi (Wagler) has the following generic character : 

 Head and body cylindrical; muzzle short; maxillary and palatine 

 teeth strong, pointed, and a little recurved; tongue large, entire, 

 adhering on all sides, with a surface hollowed into small vermiculiform 

 sinkings; eyes distinct through the skin; a fosset or false nostril in 

 front of and a littlo below each eye. 



Only two species are known, and they are both American. 



S. annulaliu (Cacilia annulata, Auct.) has the muzzle very short, 

 very thick, very much rounded, hardly less than the back of the 

 head ; nostrils opening on the sides of the muzzle, entirely at the end 

 and a little upward ; false nostrils placed below each eye, and very 

 slightly forward. Diameter of the body a sixteenth or seventieth 

 of its total length ; it is rather strong, and perfectly cylindrical, of the 

 same size throughout its extent. There are from 86 to 90 annular 

 folds, slightly and equally separated from each other ; these cease a 

 little in front of the vent, so that the skin of the terminal extremity 

 of the body, which is rounded, offers no wrinkles. 



It is a native of Guiana and Surinam. 



1, Siphantpt annulaliu very much reduced, a, head and neck wen in profile; 

 i, mouth open, to show the tongue, the teeth, and the internal orifice* of the 

 notril ; r, terminal extremity of its body ncen below. (Dunu-rll and Uibron.) 



The genus Ichthyopliii (Fitzing) has the head depressed, elongated ; 

 muzzle obtuse; maxillary and palatine teeth of loose texture (ernlees), 

 sharp, and couched backwards ; tongue entire, with a velvety suface; 



lyes distinct through the skin, a fosset with a tentaculated border (f 



lelow the eye, near the border of the upper lip. Body snbfusiform 

 with numerous circular folds close-set one against the other. (Hum. 

 and Bil>r.) 



/. gtutinomm (Cacilia glulinoia, Linn.), the only species known. 

 The diameter of the body taken near the middle is the twenty-second 

 or twenty-third part of the total length. There are about 325 folds, 

 rather uniformly appoximated. The scales which these folds hide are 

 smiill, numerous, delicate, transparent, sub-circular, nnd offering on 



.heir superior surface a small figure in relief, representing a net with 

 quadrilateral meshes. A yellowish band extends to the right and 



eft all along the body, from the muzzle to the anal extremity ; above 

 and below the tint is slate-colour, 

 It is a native of Java and Ceylon. 



The genus Rhinatrtma (Oum. and Bibr.) has the head depressed, 

 elongated ; muzzle obtuse ; maxillary and palatine teeth of loose 

 structure (effilees), sharp, and couched backwards ; tongue entire, of n 

 velvety surface ; eyes distinct through the skin ; no fossets, neither 



inder the muzzle nor below the eyes. Body subf'imform, with 

 numerous circular folds. 



R, birillalum (Cacilia bitiiltata, Auct), the only species, has the 



lead a little elongated and slightly depressed, bearing some rescm- 



