444 AMPHISB^NID^. 



points: — The nasals much larger, their median suture a little longer 

 than that between the frontals, which are not followed by any 

 occipital s ; ocular smaller ; labials much higher, the head being 

 much more compressed ; fourth upper labial very small ; lower 

 labials and chin-shields as in A. vennicidaris. The number of 

 annuli on the body given by Gray (270) is no longer controllable, 

 on account of the bad state of the specimen ; but I should feel iii- 

 cliued to regard it as nearly correct. Caudal annuli twenty-two. 

 The segments of the annuli are much narrower than in the two 

 preceding species ; the two median ventral rows equilateral ; on 

 the middle of the body an annulus contains forty-six scales, twenty- 

 two above and twenty-four below the lateral lines. Anal segments 

 six. Praeanal pores four. 

 Mendoza. 



a. Bad state. Mendoza. (Type.) 



13. Amphisbsena gracilis. 



Amphisbsena gracilis, Straucli, Mel. Biol. Ac. St. Petersh, xi. 

 p. 391. 



Snout obtusely pointed. Eostral small, triangular ; nasals 

 forming a suture ; a pair of prsefrontals, larger than the nasals ; 

 frontals smaller ; two occipitals ; eye distinct through the ocular, 

 which is situated between the proefrontal and the second labial ; two 

 upper labials ; mental quadrangular, follo\Aed by a very large hexa- 

 gonal chin-shield ; three lower labials, third very small. Two 

 hundred and twenty-four annuli on the body and twenty-eight on 

 the tail ; an annulus contains about sixteen dorsal and sixteen 

 ventral segments, of which the two median ventrals are a little 

 broader than the others. Lateral line very distinct ; a slight vertebral 

 line. Six anal segments. Four prteanal pores. Uniform dark 

 purplish brown. 



Length to vent 170 miUim. ; tail 20 millim. 



South America ? , 



14. Amphisbsena steindachneri. 



Ampliisbsena steindachneri, Strauch, Mel. Biol. Ac. St. Petersb. xi. 

 p. 407. 



Head compressed and arched, separated from the body by a 

 more or less distinct groove. Tail suddenly compressed at the end. 

 Eostral moderate, triangular, entirely under the snout ; nasals rather 

 large, forming a suture ; prtefrontals two, very large ; frontals either 

 smaller or larger than the prsef rentals : eye distinct through the ocular, 

 which forms a suture with the second and third upper labials ; 

 latter three, subequal ; a large anterior temporal ; mental large, 

 quadrangular, followed by a larger quadrangular chin-shield ; three 

 lower lalaials, first and third very small; a large chin-shield on 

 each side. Two hundred and fifty-six annuli on the body and 

 nineteen or twenty on the tail ; the annuli on the body comprise 



