TACHYDROME. Tactiydromus sexH-ftltus. 



The collar of this creature is covered with scales and decidedly toothed. The scales 

 of the back are nearly square in form, slightly overlap each other, and are arranged in four 

 longitudinal series. Each scale has a decided keel along its length. The scales of the 

 sides are small and granular, and those of the abdomen and throat are larger, strongly 

 keeled, and boldly overlap each other, a provision which is evidently intended for the 

 purpose of aiding the creature in progression, and enabling it to hold itself firmly in any 

 cleft into which it may have retreated. The scales of the common snake answer the 

 same purpose, as any one may prove by taking a snake by the tail and drawing it 

 backwards over a carpet, or by allowing itself to insinuate half of its body into a crevice 

 in a rock or old wall, and then endeavouring to draw it out again by pulling at its tail. 



The colour of this pretty Lizard is dark olive above. On each side a bold white streak, 

 edged on either side with black, runs from the base of the head to the insertion of the 

 tail. On the sides of the body and neck are a multitude of little black dots, each having 

 a white centre, and between these dots the colour is blue, glossed with golden yellow. 

 The abdomen and under parts are pure shining white, and the tail is generally olive, 

 though in some specimens it has something of a metallic or iridescent lustre, and gleams 

 with golden or coppery reflections. Between the nostril and the eye runs a short black 

 line, and on the temples are two similar lines, with a white streak between them. The 

 total length of the Tachydrome is about one foot. 



IN the curious snake-like Lizard called the SCHELTOPUSIC, or PSEUDOPUS, the limbs are 

 almost entirely absent, the front pair being altogether wanting, and not even exhibiting 

 a trace of their locality, while the hind pair of legs are only indicated by two slight 

 scale-like appendages at the junction of the tail with the body. It is often the case that 

 with reptiles in which the limbs are externally wanting, their bones, although very small 

 and delicate, are found beneath the skin. But in the Sclieltopusic, the only indication of 

 legs is found in a pair of very tiny bones attached to the pelvis, and exhibiting the 

 merest rudiment of the missing limb. 



Moreover, the pelvis itself is very small and slight, and is itself scarcely more than 

 rudimentary in its form, though affording one of the needful transition links between the 

 quadrupedal Lizards and the footle'ss snakes, some of which, indeed, possess the rudiments 

 of limbs even in a more doubtful state than is found in the Scheltopusic. In consequence 

 of the absence of limbs, the movements of this reptile are completely those of a serpen^, 

 and so snake-like is it in all its gestures, that in the countries where it resides, it is 

 popularly considered as a serpent, as is the case with the blindworm of England. 

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