502 SAURIANS. 



M. Bibron enumerates ten species, of which two are natives of 

 Africa, the rest of America. 



The DUSKY AMPHISBAENA, A. fuliginosa, and the WHITE AM- 

 PHISBAENA, A. alba, are species measuring nearly two feet in 

 length ; found in Brazil and Cayenne. They bore the ground 

 like worms, and, it is said, move either way with equal facility. 

 They are often found in the earthy habitations of the Termite- 

 Ants, which they follow through their winding galleries, for the 

 purpose of feeding on them. The flesh of these creatures, dried 

 and reduced. to a fine powder, is sometimes administered as an 

 infallible remedy in cases of broken bones, or dislocated joints ; 

 on the inference, that as it has the power of uniting its own body, 

 if cut in two, and of healing, in so marvelous a manner, amputa- 

 tion in itself, it has at least the power of curing a simple fracture 

 in another ! 



II. Genus Chirotes, (Gr. from cheir, hand,) has no hind limbs, 

 but has a pair of short front limbs placed near the head, and what 

 is remarkable among Saurians, each having five fingers, or at 

 least four fingers or toes, armed with claws, and a tubercle rep- 

 resenting the fifth. The possession of a sternum distinguishes 

 these reptiles from the Amphisbaena. The body is snake-like ; 

 the head, neck and trunk, are of equal circumference. Only 

 one species is known ; 



The CHANNELED CHIROTES or BIPED, C. canaliculatus, (Lat. 

 channeled,) eight or ten inches in length, a native of Mexico, 

 and extending to the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains. The 

 eyes are almost imperceptible, covered with transparent skin, but 

 destitute of eye-lids. Its upper surface is yellow ; the under, 

 white, and the whole body covered with little square compart- 

 ments, disposed circularly. In the absence of hind feet, while 

 the front ones are present, this creature presents a strong resem- 

 blance to the Siren, a genus of the Batrachians. 



NINTH FAMILY. SCINKS, (or SKINKS,) or LEPIDOSAURIANS. 

 Scincida, (Gr. axlyxog, skinkos, a kind of lizard.) 



We come now to the last family of the Saurians, which, to the 

 general characters of the order, join many distinguishing pecu- 

 liarities. They have the head covered with large plates, which 

 have angular and regular shapes. These render them distin- 

 guishable from all the other families of the order, except the 

 True Lizards and the Chalcidians, which, as we have seen, pos- 

 sess them also. The rest of the body is invested with scales, of 

 greater or less magnitude, and of variable forms; but always 



