FAMILY OPHIOSAURID^. 33 



the New- York Reptiles on the authority of Dr. Eights, who informed me that he had taken it 

 near Fishkill, Dutchess county. I have since obtained it from Coldspring, Putnam county. 

 It is common over the southern and western States ; is extremely active, moving with almost 

 incredible celerity ; and when irritated in confinement, elevates its spinous scales in such a 

 manner as to present a very formidable appearance. 



It inhabits in preference sandy and rocky situations ; and from its abundance in pine forests, 

 has obtained the Same of Pine Lizard. It is also called the Brown Scorpion, and its activity 

 has doubtless sugge.sted the name of Swift. 



It is perfectly harmless, notwithstanding its apparently venomous aspect. Like the Cha- 

 meleon, and many other reptiles, it has the property of changing its color, the back assuming 

 an azure tint ; and by candle light, the blue stripes on the sides assume a dark brown or 

 chesnut color. From the observations of Messrs. Say and Peale, it would seem that the 

 bluish color beneath, and the white crucial mark, belong exclusively to the male. 



The Brown Swift is found throughout the west, and extends from the Gulf of Mexico to 

 the forty-third degree of north latitude. 



(EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 



T. umbra. (Harlan, Med. and Phj'S. p. 140.) Burnt chesnut color ; beneath pale ash; imder side 

 of neck deep blackish violet. Occiput spinous. Length 15 inches. Mexico. An Tropidolepis. ? 



FAMILY OPHIOSAURIDiE. 



Scales as in the Scincidce. Body more elongated, serpentiform. Feet small, rvdimentary, varying 

 in number, four or two ; these latter are either in front or behind. 



Obs. This family connects the order Sauria with the following. 



Genus Chirotes, Cuvier. Body slender, snake-like. Scales verticillate. Head obtuse. Two ante- 

 rior feet only. 

 C. lumbricoides. (Say, Long's Exped. Vol. 1, p. 484.) With two short fore legs; four toes to each, 



and the rudiment of a fifth. Eyes small. 220 semi-rings on the body, and as many beneath. 



Length eight to ten inches. Missouri. 



Fauna — Part 3. 



