THE <;LAB8 SHAKE. 



pair of v.-ry tiny hones attached to the pelvis, and exhibiting the mearest rudiment <>f ih. 

 inN-iiii: linil.. 



Moreover, tin- IN-IVJS itself is very small and wight, nnd i-. ii-lf scarcely more than 

 rudimentary in its form, though affording one of the needful ti-.uisiii..n link-, U-u*.-. n ih.- 

 quadru|-dal Lizunl.s and th- footless snakes, some ..f which, ind.-il. i-ossess the ru.lim.-ht> 

 >f limbs even in a more doubtful state tlian is* found in tin- ShellnpiiM.-. In .n^ .|n. H. of 

 the absence of limbs, tin- movements O f tl,js reptile are complete!) ilnweof a ser|-ni. and so 

 -n:ik.- 111-.- is it in all itsL'esturrs. that in the countries wli,-n- it resides, it b populailx con-id- 

 red as a serjH-nt. a.s is tli.- case with the blind-worm. 



The Scheltopnsic is a nativ.- of the coast of Northern Africa, and is also found in Dalmaiia. 

 tli.- Morea, and parts of Siberia, when- it is call.-d l.y tin- till.- under which it is now generally 

 known. It seems to be rather a timid cn-atun-. and very tniHtriiHtfnl of strange righto or 

 - ,n'K always remainini; within tin- vicinity of some familiar s^.t, whither it seeks an iin 

 mediate retreat if disturbed. 



Thickly wooded vull.-ys. where the underwood is dark and dense, and the vegetation is 

 rank and h-a\ \ . :ire favorite localities of this harmless and weaponless reptile, which has no 

 mode of defi-m-t- if attacked, and can only retreat from tin- approach of danger ly K'i ( li 

 sil. ntly under the brushwood and insinuating itself in some dark rrvviiv. where it lies secure. 

 So watchful is this creature, that although its movements are rather slow, it is not very easily 

 captured, mostly gliding away in so silent a manner that it lias reached its haven of saf.-i> 

 before its presence is even suspected. 



l.\.ii if it be seen and followed, it is not readily cuptun-d aft-r on<v it IIUM succeeded in 

 burying itself among the brushwood, for its color is sufficiently sombre t< hunnonian so well 

 with the dark soil and dead sticks and li-av-s anioiii; which it resides, that it.s outline can with 

 difficulty lx discerned, even by a practised eye. As is the case with most reptiles, it loves to 

 .iii-rp from its retreat and crawl to some spot where the sunbeams have thoroughly wanned 

 the ground, and there to lie basking in the genial heat. While thus occupied, it is not so wary 

 as at other times, and may be approached and secured l>efore it can make good its retreat. 



The whole aspect of this reptile is so serpentine that it has been attarkwl and killed tinder 

 the impression that it was a poisonous >nak.-. and great has been the surprise of its slayers to 

 fiiul that they had destroyed, not a venomous serpent, but a harmless Lizard. This creature 

 has been often captured alive and kept in confinement. In its wild state it feeds mostly on 

 the .smaller reptiles, and similar creatures, ometimes gliding into a nest of newly 

 hatched birds and swallowing them. This propensity was once exhibited by a captive Srhel 

 topusic ; it had fed very contentedly on hard-boiled eggs, nnti! one day it contrived to gain 

 access to a nest full of very young birds, and swallowed the whole brood. 



The jaw-teeth of this reptfle, although not of a venomous character, are strong, and those 

 of the palate, although small, are probably useful in aiding the creature to secure and swallow 

 its prey. The tongue is thin and covered with a little jiapilla- of various sizes. Along each 

 side runs a rather deep groove or furrow, which, on a closer inspection, is found to U- doul>|<- 

 The scales ,f the hack are rather shining and closely set, and there is a slight keel running 

 along the centre of each scale, which is shown more distinctly on the tail than on the body. 

 The keel is shown more distinctly in the young than in the adult. 



The color of this reptile is rather variable, but in general the ground color of the body is 

 chestnut, profusely dotted with blackish spots, caused by the dark edges or spots of each 

 scale. These scales are arranged in a regular series of thirteen longitudinal rows. The eye 

 is bright golden-green, and ti:i- a v.-ry U-autiful appearance, as it contrasts well with the 

 chestnut and black of the body and head. The young Scheltopusic is very different from 

 its parent in the coloring, being gray above, with rather obscure bands of grayish -brown, ami 

 the under surface is gray, with a whitish lustre. The length of the Scheltopusic is about 

 eighteen inches, the tail occupying about three fifths of the whole measurement. 



I\ the curious reptile which is appropriately called the GLASS SXAKK. there is not even 

 a vestige of limbs, so that it b even more snake -like than the preceding species. The generic 



