114 THE STORY OF REPTILE LIFE. 



peculiar mode of life. Some have undergone 

 but little change, waylaying their unsuspecting 

 prey, by covering themselves with earth, so 

 as to leave only the head exposed. Others, and 

 these are represented by four closely allied 

 families, have undergone still further specialisa- 

 tion, the eyes in at least three families being 

 reduced to mere vestiges. 



In one family, the Shield-Snakes (Uropeltidce) 

 of Ceylon and Southern India, the tail terminates 

 in a large shield, giving the body an obliquely 

 truncated appearance. The use of this peculiar 

 shield is unknown. They burrow in the soft 

 earth often to a depth of several feet, and rarely 

 appear above ground, and then only apparently 

 during the rainy season. They appear to live 

 solely on earth-worms. 



The Cylinder Snakes (Eysiedce) of Ceylon and 

 South-Eastern Asia, Tropical South America, 

 like the Boas, to which they show some affinity, 

 retain traces of the hind-limbs in the shape of 

 claw-like spurs hidden among the scales. The 

 most conspicuous member of this family is very 

 beautifully coloured, and on this head we shall 

 have more to say later (p. 161). Like their allies, 

 the Shield-Tailed Snakes, just referred to, these 

 snakes burrow deeply, and feed on earthworms 

 and insects. The Coral Snake, however, appears 

 to be a partial exception to this rule, since it is 

 not so confirmed a burrower as the remaining 

 members of the family. 



The Blind Snakes, representing the families 

 Typhodise and G-laucinidse, are particularly 

 interesting forms. Degraded to a worm-like 



