Dr. J. E. Gray on the Amphisbcenians. 369 



A. Lateral and dorsal lines distinct, sunken, covered with small tri- 

 angular scales ; nasal shields large, square, lateral, forming 

 part of the edge of the upper lip, and separated in front by a 

 broad, square, convex rostral shield. 



Blanus. 



The rostral square, convex ; the nasal shields large, forming part 

 of the edge of the upper Up ; the crown with a large pentagonal 

 frontal shield and two pairs of square shields behind it ; eye-shield 

 triangular, between upper edge of the front labial shield and the 

 frontal. Temples covered with a series of squarish shields ; labial 

 shields ftirge, the hinder smallest ; the lower shields without any chin- 

 shield between them and the gular one. Tail rather tapering, blunt ; 

 preanal pores distinct. 



Blanus cinereus, Gray, l. c. 72. 



A?nphisbcetia cmere«, Vandeii, Mem. Acad. Lisbon, i. 1780. 



A. oxyura, Wagler. 



A. rufus, Hempr. 



Blanus rufus, Wiegm. 



Hab. N. Africa, Tangier {Fraser, B. M.) ; S.W. Europe, Spain 

 [Fandeli, 1780) ; Oporto {Allen). 



M. Gervais (Mag. Zool. 1837, class 3. t. 10) gives a figure of ^. 

 cinerea ; but the details of the head do not perfectly agree with 

 our specimens ; perhaps this may be from want of care in the artist. 

 The number of pairs of plates on the occiput varies from two to 

 four. 



B. Lateral lines linear, distinct, sunken; dorsal none, or very in- 

 distinct ; nasal shields not forming part of the upper lip. 



a. Nasal plates large, extending across the muzzle, united by a long 

 straight suture, or united into one cross band ; the rostral trian- 

 gular, under front edge of nasals ; crown with two pairs of 

 broad shields. 



Amphisb^na. 



Head depressed, broad, and rounded in front ; frontal plates with 

 one or two pairs of rather smaller similar plates behind them ; pre- 

 anal pores eight. 



* Head depressed, broad; occiput covered with square shields, like 

 the body ; preanal plates numerous. 



1. Amphisb^na alba, Linn. ; Gray, Cat. Tort., &c., B.M. 70. 



Body thick, one-coloured, with only one pair of plates behind the 

 frontal plates ; occiput shielded like the body. 



Hab. Brazil. 



Varies in the size and form of the hinder pair of frontal plates ; 

 preanal pores eight, often seven. 



Ann. S^ Mag. N. Hist. Scr. 3. VoLxvi. 25 



