SAURIA. 187 



CHALCJDES, Daud. 



Elongated Lizards resembling Serpents; but the scales, instead of being 

 arranged like tiles, are rectangular, forming transverse bands, which do not 

 encroach on each other like those on the tails of ordinary Lizards. 



CHIROTES, Cuv. 



Similar to Chalcides in their verticillate scales, and still more so to the Am- 

 phisbaense in the obtuse form of their head; but distinguished from the former 

 by the absence of hind feet, and from the latter by the presence of the an- 

 terior feet. One species only is known, which is found in Mexico. 



ORDER III. 

 OPHIDIA.(l) 



Serpents are reptiles without feet, and consequently those which 

 best merit that appellation. Their extremely elongated body moves 

 by means of the folds it forms when in contact with the ground. 

 They are divided into three families. 



FAMILY I. 



ANGUINA.(2) 



The Angues still have an osseous head, teeth, and tongue, similar 

 to those of a Seps; their eye is furnished with three lids, &c., and, 

 in fact, if we may so express it, they are Seps without feet; they are 

 all comprised in the genus 



ANGUIS, Lin. 



Characterized externally by imbricated scales, with which they are com- 

 pletely enveloped. They have been separated into four subgenera; in the 

 three first we still find beneath the skin the bones of the shoulder and pelvis. 

 This genus is now subdivided into Pseudopus, Ophisaurus, Jtnguis proper, 

 and Jlcontias. 



(1) O<p/c, a Serpent. (2) Anguis, the Latin generic term for Serpents. 



