548 MANUAL OF ZOOLOGY. 



and the abdominal scales are square or roundish, and disposed 

 in cross bands. The ears are distinct, and the eyes are pro- 

 vided with eyelids. In this group are the footless American 

 Glass-snakes (Ophisaurus\ and the Sheltopusiks (Pseudopus) 

 of the Old World, in which the limbs are wanting, or a rudi- 

 mentary pair of hind-legs is present. 



More important than any of the preceding is the large and 

 widely distributed family of the Scincidce, comprising a number 

 of small Lacertilians, some of which are completely snake-like, 

 whilst others possess a single pair of limbs, and others again 

 have the normal two pairs of limbs in a well-developed condi- 

 tion. All possess movable eyelids, and in all the conforma- 

 tion of the lower jaw is Lacertilian, and not Ophidian. All 

 the Scincoidean Lizards have the body covered by similar 

 scales overlapping one another like the scales of fishes, whilst 

 the head is protected by larger symmetrical plates. The 

 tongue is free, fleshy, and slightly notched. 



Of the snake-like forms of this group, none is more familiarly known 

 than the Blind-worm or Slow- worm (Anguis fragilis, fig. 302) which is 

 found over almost the whole of Europe, in western Asia, and northern 



Fig. 302. The Blind-worm {A nguisfragilis) after Bell. 



Africa, and which is one of the most abundant of the British Reptiles. 

 The Blind -worm possesses no external appearance of limbs, though the 

 scapular and pelvic arches are present in a rudimentary condition. Its 

 appearance is completely serpentiform, and it is vulgarly regarded as a 



