SOOTY AMPHISB^BNA. Amfhisbcna AmerteaiM. 



In speaking of this reptile, Stedman has the following remarks. " This is the snake 

 which, supposed blind, and vulgarly said to be fed by the large ants, is in this country 

 honoured with the name of King of the Emmets. The flesh of the Amphisbsena, dried 

 and reduced to a fine powder, is confidently administered as a sovereign and infallible 

 remedy in all cases of dislocation and broken bones, it being very naturally inferred that 

 an animal which has the power of healing an entire amputation in its own case, should at 

 least be able to cure a simple fracture in the case of another." 



This process of reasoning alludes to a curious popular error respecting the Amphisbasna, 

 The people of the countries which it inhabits believe that if one of these reptiles is cut 

 in two, each half, being furnished with a separate head, hastens to its fellow part, and 

 neatly fitting the severed surfaces, repairs the breach and is soon restored to its original 

 condition. 



It is rather a dull and sluggish animal when exposed to light, crawling slowly upon the 

 ground, twisting itself lazily about, and opening its mouth in a purposeless kind of fashion 

 without any definite intention of biting or escaping. 



The colour of the Sooty Amphisbasna is rather variable, but consists of black and 

 white. Its length is about three feet. There are several species of this genus in the 

 British Museum, one of which, the White Amphisbsena (Amphisbcena alba) is of a white 

 colour, and remarkable for a little pellucid dot in the front edge of each scale. 



CLOSELY allied to this creature is another reptile, very appropriately called the 

 CHETEOTES, or HAND-EARED LIZARD (Chetrotes lumbricoides). This is a native of Brazil, 

 and as far as is known, is of subterranean habits, like the amphisbaena. 



The Cheirotes is the only example of all the amphisbasnas that possesses external 

 limbs, and even in this instance, they are small and but slightly developed. There are no 

 hind legs, but the two fore legs are set just behind the head ; nearly in the place where 

 the ears might be expected to be seen. They are very short, rather flat and strong, and are 

 terminated with five toes, four of which are armed with a tolerably strong claw. The 

 fifth toe is very small and without a claw. 



The head of this creature is no larger than the body, the teeth are conical, moderately 

 strong and slightly curved backwards, the muzzle is arched, the tongue horny at the tip, 

 the tall is short, and there is a row of small pores on the under side of the abdomen. Its 

 length is about eight or ten inches, and its colour is yellow, spotted with brown above, and 

 whitish below. This species is the sole representative of its family. The other two 



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