216 SAURIA. 



the genera. The tongue is flat, broad, subelliptical, posteriorly emar- 

 ginated ; it tapers off anteriorly, where it is moreover subdivided into 

 two thin and smooth threads ; otherwise, the surface of that organ is 

 covered with large scale-like papillae, or else flattened, smooth, imbri- 

 cated scales, rounded upon their free edge, which is directed towards 

 the back part of the mouth. 



The teeth are either firmly adhering to the jaw bones or else inserted 

 upon their inner edge into a common groove, hence, giving two groups : 

 the Acrodonts (Amphisbaenidae) and the Pleurodonts (Lepidosternidae) . 



SYN. Amphisbaenoidea, FITZ. Neue Class. Kept. 1826, 11. 



Amphisbaenidae, BONAP. Saggio, Distr. Aniin. Vertebr. 1831. GRAY, Synops. Brit. 

 Mus. 1840 ; & Catal. Tort. Croc. & Amphisb. Brit. Mus. 1844, 09. 

 Amphisbaenae, WiEGM. Herp. Mex. I, 1834, 20. 

 Cydosaureg glyptodermes, DUM. & BIBR. Erpet. gen. V, 1839, 464. 

 Lepidosternidae, GRAY, Catal. Tort. Croc. & Amphisb. Brit. Mus. 1844, 73. 



OBSERV. The species which we record further on, the only one we 

 possess of the present family, belongs to the group of Pleurodonts or 

 Lepidosternidae. 



GENUS CEPHALOPELTIS, MULL. 



GEN. CHAR. One rostral and one cephalic plate ; the latter covering 

 the entire upper surface of the head. Snout protruding beyond the 

 lower jaw, with the nostrils under its apex. Eyes not visible. Pec- 

 toral shields large. Four longitudinal depressed lines : a dorsal, an 

 abdominal, and a lateral one, dividing the body into four elongated 

 zones. Fifteen or more verticils around the tail. 



. CephalopeUis, MiiLL. in Tied. u. Trev. Zeitschr.f. Physiol. IV, 1832. WIEGM. 

 Herp. Mex. I, 1834, 20. GRAY, Catal. Tort. Croc. & Amphisb. Brit. Mus. 1844, 73. 



OBSERV. The four longitudinal lines which divide the surface of 

 the body into as many areas are the result of the decussation of the 

 dermic partitions upon the regions where they occur; they do not 

 extend to the tail, except the dorsal one, which may slightly affect a 

 few of the caudal verticils. 



