370 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



of Cascilians are few, and specimens are rare. Most of the forms occur 

 in tropical America, but others are found in Ceylon, Siam, etc. In their 

 habits they are somewhat like earthworms, as they live in holes in the 

 damp earth, and feed on insects and other forms which they may capture. 



Fig. 337.— Blind-worm (Csecilia). 



According to the Brothers Sarasin, who studied them in Ceylon, they lay. 

 their eggs in long strings, and instead of depositing them in the water, the 

 mother incubates them. A similar condition occurs in the mud or Congo 

 eel of the southern states (p. 359) ; an additional proof of the view of Pro- 

 fessor Cope that the Caecilians have descended from Amphiuma-like forms. 



