CLASS III. REPTILIA: ORDER 3. SAURIA. 



373 



do not possess these organs, and might, perhaps, with equal propriety, be classed with the 

 Ophidia. Tlie proniinent charactoristics of the true Sauria are, that the bones of the upper jaw 

 and the face are firmly attached to the skull, so that they are incapable of any independent mo- 

 tion, and the lower jaw moves only from a single point ; both jaws are armed with teeth, gener- 

 ally confined to the jaws ; in some the tongue is long, slender, horny, bifid, and inclosed in a 

 sheath, from which it can be protruded at pleasure ; in others it is thick, fleshy, and attached to 

 the back of the mouth. The development of the extremities is variable, some being as destitvite 

 of external limbs as the snakes ; others have them well developed. 



The immense number and great variety of these animals render their classification a matter 

 of some difficulty ; we shall not attempt to follow the details of any of the various systems. In 

 our descriptions of species we can give but comparatively few examples; these, however, will 

 convey an adequate idea of the whole. We shall present them under the following heads: the 

 Typhlopidw, Amjyhisbcemdce, Gt/mnophtkahnidce, Sciiicidce, Chalcidce, Lacertidoe, Ameividce, Va- 

 ranidce, Geckotidce, Iguanidce, Agamidoi, and Chameleontida;. 



THE TYPHLOPID^. 



These creatures derive their name from Typhlos and ojys, words signifying '■'■having a blind appear- 

 ance,''^ and this truly characterizes the family. They are small snake or worm-like animals, nearly 

 cylindrical in form, and quite destitute of limbs; the head is covered with shields, and the tail is 

 short and rounded off at the end ; the tongue is long and forked. The eye is reduced to a point, and 

 is scarcely visible through the skin. One species, the Ti/phlojjs braminus, has the head of the size 

 of the body, and is compared by Cuvier to a small piece of fine pack-thread. Another, the T. 

 Philippinus, is eight inches long, of a blackish color, and is entirely blind. These creatures are 

 found in the hot parts of both continents. They live in holes in the ground and under stones, 

 and sometimes bury themselves three feet deep during the rainy season. 



THE AMPHISByENID^. 



The term Ampjhisbcena signifies an " animal that can walk in both directions^'' and is applied 

 to this iamily because they proceed either backward or forward, as occasion may require. This 

 habit has given rise to the idea that they have two heads, and consequently they have been called 

 Double-headed serpents. Many superstitions in regard to them were formerly current ; one species 



which was blind was said to be fed by ants, 

 and was called K'lng of the Ants, and their flesh, 

 dried and powdered, was esteemed a cure for 

 broken or dislocated bones. 



These creatures have a vei-miform appearance ; 

 the skin is annulated and divided into square 

 shields by transverse and longitudinal furrows. 

 The head is of the same size as the neck, and 

 the tail is rounded off". The tongue is thick, 

 short, and not sheathed; the eyes are small, 

 destitute of eyelids, and sometimes hidden under 

 the skin; the majority are quite destitute of 

 limbs ; they live in the ground, and feed upon 

 insects. The only known species are found in 

 the hot parts of South America. 



Genus AMPHISB^ENiV : AmpMsbcena. — 

 This includes the Brown Amphisb^na, A.fuli- 

 ginosa, eighteen to twenty-four inches long, of a 

 brown color, the body surrounded by over two 

 hundred rings ; the eyes covered by a membrane, 

 though the animal is not blind. It lives on worms 

 and insects, particularly ants, in the hills of which it usually conceals itself. It has no fangs, and 



THE BROWN AMPHISB^NA. 



