SAUKIANS. 505 



VII. Heteropus, (Gr. with unlike feet,) has four toes in front 

 and five behind. 



VIII. Trachysaurus, (Gr. rough lizard,) has five toes to each 

 toot. The Rough Skink, T. rugosus, of New Holland, attains 

 to a very large size, and is very singular in its appearance. 



IX. Plestiodon, is a genus found in the United States, also 

 having five toes to each foot ; the fore feet short and scaly, with 

 five sharp nails ; the hind feet larger, with long slender toes, 

 also furnished with nails. The species P. fasciatus, (Lat. 

 banded,) was formerly Scincus fasciatus, (as in the Chart.) 

 The body has five yellow lines upon it, from which the specific 

 name is derived ; the color above is bluish black. The length 

 is from six to eight inches. This reptile is common in the South- 

 ern parts of New York State, and has been seen as far North as 

 Massachusetts. It is found in Japan. The species P. erythro- 

 cephalus, (Gr. red headed,) is twelve inches long, and found 

 from Pennsylvania to Florida. One species, P. Americanus, 

 which is the largest, is said to attain the length of twenty-five 

 inches. In the Southern States, they are called Scorpions, and 

 regarded as poisonous, but not justly. The larger species are 

 capable of inflicting a severe bite. The smaller ones are found 

 about old logs, and sometimes under the bark of trees. A species 

 of this genus is found in Egypt. 



X. Scincus. This genus, as now restricted, includes but one 

 species, S. officinalis, peculiar to Northern and Western Africa 

 and Syria, having the tongue notched -and scaly, the teeth con- 

 ical and blunt, and two rows on the palate ; the muzzle is 

 wedge-shaped ; the scales are smooth and shining, like those of a 

 fish. The limbs are four, with five toes on each foot. The tail 

 is conical and pointed. The upper parts are usually yellow, or 

 of a silvery gray, mingled with brown and blackish. The under 

 parts are, generally, of a silvery white. It is termed by Bruce, 

 EL ADDA. In ancient times, it was regarded as an efficacious 

 remedy in various diseases, especially those of an eruptive na- 

 ture. According to Pliny, it was useful for curing wounds 

 made by poisoned arrows, and, at the present day, it is kept by 

 tha druggists of Southern Europe; though its reputation has 

 greatly waned. " It runs with considerable rapidity, and. when 

 alarmed, it buries itself in the sand with singular quickness, 

 burrowing, in a few moments, a gallery of many feet in depth. 

 When caught, it struggles to escape, but neither attempts to bite, 

 nor to defend itself with its claws." 



II. Sub-family Opiophthalmoi, (Gr. serpent-eyes,) including 

 Skinks, in which the eyes, like those of Serpents, are either 



