180 REPTILIA. 



CHIROTES, Cuvier. 



Similar to Chalcides in their verticillate scales, and still more so to the Am- 

 phisbsenae in the obtuse form of their head ; but distinguished from the former 

 by the absence of hind feet, and from the latter by the presence of the anterior 

 feet. One species only is known, which is found in Mexico. 



ORDER III. 



OPHIDIA*. 



t 



Serpents are reptiles without feet, and consequently those which best merit 

 that appellation. Their extremely elongated body moves by means of the 

 folds it forms when in contact with the ground. They are divided into three 

 families. 



FAMILY I. 



ANGUINAf. 



THE Angues still have an osseous head, teeth, and tongue, similar to those 

 of the Seps ; their eye is furnished with three lids, &c., and, in fact, if we may 

 so express it, they are Seps without feet; they are all comprised in the genus 



ANGUIS, Linnaeus, 



Characterised externally by imbricated scales, with which they are com- 

 pletely enveloped. They have been separated into 

 four subgenera ; in the three first we still find be- 

 neath the skin the bones of the shoulder and pelvis. 

 In the Pseudopus (Merr.) the tympanum is visible 

 externally, and on each side of the anus is a small prominence containing a 

 bone analogous to the femur; one of the lungs is a fourth smaller than the 

 other ; the scales are square, thick, and semi- imbricate. The Ophisaurus, 

 (Daudin), only differs from the above in being entirely deficient in external 

 posterior extremities. 



This genus is now subdivided into Pseudopus, Ophisaurus, Anguis proper, 

 and Acontias. 



Of if, a Serpent f Anguis, the Latin genetic term for Scrpenti. 



