CLASS III. REPTILIA: ORDER 3. SAURIA. 



375 



THE GLASS-SNAKE. 



inclics lonQf ; color bluish-black ; feeds on insects ; is often found under tlic bark of trees, and is 

 perfectly harmless. It is met with from Massachusetts to New York. 



. Genus CELESTUS : Celestus, includes the Galliwasp, C. occiduus, of the West Indies, a 

 small, harmless lizard, though an object of dread to the inhabitants. 



Genus PLESTIODOX : Plestiodon. — To this belongs the P. crythrocephalus^ which lives in 

 holes of trees, often at a height of thirty or forty feet from the ground, where it frequently takes 

 possession of the deserted nest of a woodpecker. When disturbed, the lizard puts out his head, 

 which is very large and of a bright red color, in a most thi-eatening manner ; and when cap- 

 tured, its powerful jaws and strong teeth enable it to inflict a severe wound, although it is 

 not venomous, as commonly supposed. Found in the Southern United States. There are sev- 

 eral other species in the Middle, Western, and Southern States. 



Genus TROPIDOLEPIS : Tropidolejy'is. — This includes the Brown Swift, T. iindulatus, five 

 to eight inches long; brown above, beneath green. It is very agile, perfectly harmless, lives in 

 woods, and feeds on insects. It is sometimes called the Pine-Lizard^ and also the Brown Scorpion. 

 Found in the Southern States. 



THE CIIALCID^. 



This family derives its name from a Greek town, Chalkis. The same variety of limbs belong 

 to it as to the preceding. Instead of the imbricated, bony scales of the skiuks, however, these 

 have the common reptilian scales, arranged in regular transverse rows. The eyelids are always 

 present, the ears exposed, the tongue short, fleshy, and notched at the tip. Species are found in 

 Asia, Africa, Europe, and South Amei'ica. 



Genus PSEUDOPXJS : Pseiulojyus. — This includes the Scheltopusik, P. Pallasii, which has 

 two rudimentary hind-legs ; found in Southeastern Europe. 



Genus CHAM^ESAURA : Chamcesaura. — To this belongs the Anguine Lizard, C, anrjuina 

 — Lacerta anguina of Linnreus, and made the type of a distinct family by Dr. J. E. Gray. The 

 body is covered with elongated, keeled scales, in longitudinal series. The feet are four in num- 

 ber, exceedingly small, with a single toe to each. It is found at the Cape of Good Hope. 



THE LACEKTID^. 



These have the body clothed with scales, and the head with large, regular plates ; the head is 

 distinctly separated from the neck, which is never furnished with a pouch under the throat, or 

 with any other appendages ; the eyes are provided with a pair of movable eyelids, and also 



