ZOIS1TE. 



ZONURID.K. 



s smooth, muzzle blunt ; ventral fins situated before the pectorals ; 

 dorsal, anal, and caudal fins united; all the fins very thick; vent 

 anterior to the middle of the body, its situation marked by a tubercle ; 

 teeth conical, placed- in a single row; branchiostegous rays six in 

 number. 



/. riripanu, the Viviparous Blenny, differs from the other British 

 Kennies in the circumstance to which its name refers that of bringing 

 forth its young alive, which seem perfectly able to provide for them- 

 selves the moment they are excluded. The ventral fins of this fish 

 assume the appearance and perform the functions of the legs of higher 

 animals. It is said to use these limbs for the purpose of climbing on the 

 rocks out of the water, where it will remain exposed to the air for some 

 time, thus forming an approach to the reptile forms of life. When 

 boiled, the bones of this fish are green ; hence its name of Qreenbone. 



ZOlSITK. [EllDOTE.] 



ZONOTRI'CHIA (Swainson), a sub-genus of PringUla. [FuixoiL 

 LID.K.] 



/,< iM'RID.K, a family of Saurian Reptiles possessing the following 

 characters: Head pyramidal or depressed, covered with regular 

 many-sided shields. Tongue flat, nicked at the tip. Scales of the 

 back and tail large, rhombic. Sides with a distinct longitudinal fold, 

 covered with small granular scales. Ears distinct. Eyes with two 

 valvular lids. Limbs four, strong, or rarely entirely wanting or hid 

 under the skin. 



The following is a synopsis of the genera from the British Museum 

 Catalogue : 



A. Femoral pores distinct Nasal shield without any or only 



one pair of supra-nasals. Legs four. Occipital shields few. 

 It inhabits tho Old World. 



a. Tail spinose. Head depressed. Fron to-parietal and parietal 

 plates forming a large square. Tongue velvet-like. Collar 

 none, with a slight cross fold on the side of the neck. 

 Femoral pores numerous. 



(,'ordylut. Scales of back and sides square, in close cross series. 

 Lower eyelid transparent Nasal small : supra-nasals square, con- 

 tiguous. 



Zonunu. Scales of back and sides square, keeled, in close cross 

 series. Lower eyelid opaque. Nasal triangular : supra-nasal none. 



J/cmicortlyltu. Scales of back small, square, in cross rows ; of the 

 sides granular. Nasal triangular : supra-nasal none. 



Pteuducordylia. Scales of the back suboval, in cross rows, sur- 

 rounded with granules, with a fold on each side of the neck. Nasal 

 triangular : supra-nasal none. 



6. Tail unarmed. Head pyramidal Tongue scaly. Supra- 

 nasal none. 



Platyiarm. Toes 5-5. Head depressed. Fronto-nasals two, fronto- 

 pariatals and parietals distinct, equal Body fusiform. 



Ciciffna. Toes 5-6. Head square. Fronto-naaols two, fronto-parietal 

 and parietal united on each side. Body fusiform. 



Gtrrkotaunu. Toes 6-5. Head square. Fronto-nasals two, fronto- 

 parietals and parietals distinct, equal Body fusiform. 



PleHrottruJttu. Toes 5-5. Head square. Fronto-nasals none, 

 fronto prieul and parietals equal Body and tail elongate. 

 .Sinroj<Ai'. Toes 4-4, very short Body and tail elongate. 

 Caitia. Feet undivided, front very slender, elongated, hinder com- 

 pressed, thick. Body and tail elongate. Femoral pores 2-2. 



c. Tail unarmed. Head pyramidical, elongate. Collar distinct, 



of keeled scales. Inguinal pores 2-2. 



Tachydromut. Ventral shields keeled. Throat with keeled scales. 

 Tathyiannu. Ventral shields smooth. Throat granular in front 



B, Femoral pores none. Nasal plates with two or more pairs of 



supra-nasal shields above. Occipital plates numerous. Collar 

 none. Throat shielded. 



o. Limbs four. Body fusiform. Tongue velvety. It inhabits 



the Western Hemisphere. 



Akron ia. Head depressed. Inter-nasal small, distinct Scales of 

 Kick smooth. 



ti>moltu. Head pynmidlcal. Inter-nasal small, supra-nasal latge. 

 Scales of the bock keeled. 



Slgaria. Head pyramidical Inter-nasal large, supra-nasal very 

 narrow. Scales of the back keeled, of sides smooth. Tail elongate, 



Bariuia. Head pyniuidiosl. Inter-nasal plates none. Scales of 

 back keeled, 



i. Legs two or none. Body snake-like. 

 Ptndepiu. Limbs two, posterior, undivided. 

 Opttuattna. Limbs none. 



A. Femoral pores distinct Supra-nasal shields none or only one 

 pair. OcdpiUl shields few. Legs four. It inhabits the 

 Eastern World. 



a. Tail spinose. Head depressed, broad. Fronto-parietnl and 

 pat ietal plates large. Tongue velvet-like. Collar none, or 

 only a slight fold on each side of throat Nostrils in 

 single plat?. Femoral pores numerous. [Zoxuntiu.] 



We now proceed to give a few illustrations of the species of this 

 amily, of which thirty are described in the ' British Museum 

 Catalogue.' 



Zonurui ffritnu has the lower lid squamoua and opaque. It is a 

 native of the Cape of Good Hope and Senegal. 



Zonuriu prwrw. 



This is the Cordylvu grlicua of Cuvier, and the Zonnnu Curdyltu of 

 Merrem. 



TtKhydromut tczlineatut, the Tachydrome, is a tropical form of 

 this family, aud ia found in Cochin-China, China, Borneo, and Java. 



Tachjclromc (Tacli^Jromia tttlineattu). 



Pieiuloput Paltarii, the Sheltopusik, or Scheltopusik, is the only 

 species of Pieudoput. It is remarkable for the slight development of 

 its extremities, as seen in the figure of the vertebra (o a). Cuvier 

 classed this animal with the OpIMia, at the head of the Orvets ; but 

 there can be no doubt of its connection with the Sauna, and the 

 nature of its vertebral development is interesting in relation to the 



