C 163 J 



THE S E P S. 



r*!"^ II E Seps muft be clofely examined, to be diftinguifhed from a 

 I ferpent -, as the opening for its ears is fcarce difcoverable, nor 

 its legs. Eyes fmall. The Seps Teems to make one in that particular 

 group which feparates the lizard from the ferpent race. It has four 

 legs, like the lizard, but very fhort, under an inch, fomctimes fcarce a 

 quarter of an inch ; and a long (lender body, which it rolls round on 

 itfelf, like the ferpent. The fore legs are very near the head; the hind 

 legs a'-e placed far backward; the aninial moves them brifkly, and per- 

 haps with advantage. They have three toes. Thefe animals are found 

 two or three feet long, with a large he^d and pointed fnout. The whole 

 body is covered with quadrangular fcalesj and the belly is white mixed 

 with blue. It has four crooked teeth; alfo a very fharp pointed tail, 

 which, however, inflicts no wound. On the back, two ftreaks of a lighter 

 colour, bordered on each fide with a thin blacker ftreak. 



Inhabits Italy, France, &c. It is viviparous j fifteen young ones having 

 been taken alive out of its belly. On the whole, it appears to bear a 

 ftrong affinity to the viper ; and fome think its bite may be dangerous. 



THE CHALCIDE 



APPROACHES yet nearer to ferpents in form than the Seps : lon- 

 ger in body; no opening for the ears; legs very fhort j its fcalrt 

 placed ring-wife on its body ; each ring feparated by a little gutter, as 

 well on the body as the tail ; the head rcfembles the Seps ; three toes 10 

 each foot ; inhabits hot countries ; might have been thought the immc-> 

 diate link that uniies the lizard to the ferpent clafs, had not fomo 

 Ifiped reptiles been difcovered, whofc peculiar forms are yet more ferpcn- 

 tine, from that circumllance. 



pea THE 



