156 



8. Fam. SCINCIDAE. 



Body covered with uniform cycloid, imbricate scales with 

 underlying bony plates; these plates with symmetrical tubules. 

 Head with large symmetrical shields. Tongue flat, bifid behind, 

 nicked in front, covered with rhomboidal imbricate papillae 

 (fig. 1.6); pleurodont. Eye with round pupil, eyelids usually 

 well-developed. Ear distinct or covered with scales. Limbs 

 present or absent. No femoral or praeanal pores. Tail generally 

 long, fragile. Terrestrial and arboreal forms, usually ovovivi- 

 parous; the eggs, when laid, are soft-shelled. 



Key to the Indo-Australian genera. 



A. Tympanum, when distinct, more or less sunk. 



I. Pterygoids separated in the middle line of the 

 palate, the palatal notch extending anteriorly 

 to a line connecting the centre of the eyes 

 (fig. 67 a}. 



a. No supranasals I. Tiliqua, p. 156. 



b. Supranasals present 2. Mabuia, p. 158. 



II. Pterygoids in contact in front, the palatal notch 



not extending to between the centre of the 

 eyes (fig. 67 ). 



1. Eyelids movable 3. Lygosoma^ p. 164. 



2. Eyelid immovable, transparent, covering 



. the eye 4. Ablepharus, p. 271. 



B. Tympanum exposed and superficial. 



I. Head normal 5. Tropidophorus, p. 275. 



II. Head well separated from the neck, covered 



with bony shields 6. Tribolonotus, p. 280. 



6 



Fig. 67. a. Palate of Mabuia multifasciata (Kuhl); 



b. of Lygosoma olivacctim (Gray). 



Nat. size. 



I. Tiliqua Gray. 

 (GRAY, Ann. Phil. (2) X p. 201, 1825). 

 Palatines in contact in the middle of the palate; pterygoids 



