PYOOPl - 



57 



'I'm: tir-t family <>f this tril- i- .li-iin-nis!i.-,| |,y tin* apparent absence of eyelids, those 

 organ.-' U-iii- ..nly ni.limentary and scarcely \isil>|.-, >,, a-, t,, K lie eyes a superficial 



raemblaiu-.- t.) those of the serpents. On aooonnt <.f this p.vuliurity. the reptiles I 

 t<> thi^ family an- t.-nn.tl the Gape-yed Skinks. Their bodies are spindle-sha|>"l, th.-ir 

 tongues are M-ah. nirk.-u :it the tip, their teeth are conical, and their limbs are four in 

 number, and very feel.].-. 



These creatures are found in various parts of the globe, but Australia seems to !M> their 

 favorite home. The PETK, or AUSTRALIAN TILIQITA (Orytobtkpharut bouionii), is a good 

 example of the (tape-eyed Slunk*, or GYXXOPHTIIALMIIM, a long name (l.-ri\,-<l fi,, m two 

 Greek words signifying naked-eyed. As its name import*, this reptile is a nathv of Western 

 Australia, but it i* also fouinl in othr parts of tho world, specimens having leen taken 

 in Timor ami tin- Mauritius Tin- color of the Pete is olive, sometimes with a wash of 

 l>r..n/.-, muiil.Ml with brown, and variegated with little black streaks. Sometimes there is a 

 bright yellow streak on each side. Its eyelid is circular and scaly, and the three upper scale* 

 are the largest. 



TUK next family is well represented by the PTOOPOH, or NKW HOLLAND 

 a curious reptile that inhabits Australia. 



\\ I V \ 



nruoroa.- 



(Two-tLInU uuanJ *.) 



This creature might easily be mistaken for the snake-like Lizard called the Scheltopusic, 

 which has already been described on page 63, as the two fore-legs are entirely absent, and the 

 hiii'lt-r pair are very small, rudimentary, and set so closely against the body that they would 

 escape a casual glance. They are flattish, covered with scales, and are not even divided into 

 joints or toes, so that they are wholly useless for progression, the Pygopus creeping along after 

 the ordinary fashion of snakes. 



If the creature be turned on its back, a curious arrangement of scales is seen. Between 

 the bases of the lower limbs, several huge, shield-like scales are seen, and just above them Is a row 

 of rather long and arched scales, extending in a sfiiiicin-ular form from one limb to the other, 

 and looking much like the stones that are set upon the summit of an arched doorway. Each 

 of these scales is pierced with a circular pore, so that the general effect is very striking. The 

 whole body of this reptile is very long in proportion to its width, and it has altogether a very 

 serpentine aspect. 



The head of the Pygopus is rather short, and is covered above with some rather largn 



shields, that upon the top of the head being equal to any two others in size. The 

 vc. nx &. 



