66 THE SEPS, OR CICIGNA. 



proceeding to the next family, we must give a short notice of one or two rather con- 

 spicuous species. 



The first is the SPINE- BACKED LIZARD of New Guinea (Tribolonbtus Novce Guinea), a 

 very remarkable creature, notable for the singular formation of the scales which cover 

 the back, and in allusion to which the creature has been placed under the generic name 

 Tribolonotus. This long word is of Greek origin, signifying calthrop-backed : calthrops 

 being certain horrible instruments thrown on the ground to check the advance of cav- 

 alry, and consisting of four iron spikes, set round a ball in such a manner, that when 

 flung on the ground, three points rest on the earth, and the other projects perpendi- 

 cularly into the air. 



Though really harmless, the Spine-backed Lizard is a most formidable looking 

 creature, the whole of the back being covered with long and sharply-pointed spikes, 

 formed by a modification of the scales, that project boldly in all directions, and fully 

 justify the generic name. Even on the tail the scales, which are arranged in whorls, 

 are long, pointed, and project over each other, so as to give a very formidable aspect 

 to this member. Even the head is armed with these pointed scales, which become 

 larger and larger as they approach the neck. The color of this Lizard is brown above, 

 and grayish white below. 



ANOTHER notable member of this family is the well-known GALLIWASP (Celestus 

 occiduus). 



This reptile is a native of the West Indian Islands, and is very common in Jamaica, 

 where it is held in great, but groundless dread, by the inhabitants, and especially by 

 the negroes. It generally haunts damp situations, and is mostly found in marshy 

 lands, near water, or hidden under rocks where moisture is retained by the nature of 

 the ground. It is thought that when the Galliwasp is irritated, its bite is as venomous 

 as that of a poisonous snake, and causes immediate death. On account of the dread 

 in which it is held, the negroes call it by the name of Mabouya, in common with the 

 reptile which has already been described on page 60. 



The color of the Galliwasp is brown of various tones, diversified with cross bands 

 of blackish brown. It is about one foot in length. There are several species belong- 

 ing to this genus, all being found in Jamaica. 



The last example of the Skinks which can be mentioned in these pages is SACRA'S 

 DIPLOGLOSSUS, or DOUBLE-TONGUED LIZARD (Diploglossus Sagrd). 



This reptile is a native of Cuba, and is found in localities where the air is cool, and 

 the soil light and moist. It is an active little creature, and moves from place to place 

 with much agility. In this reptile the tongue is rather large, covered with little scale- 

 like papillae in front, becoming more thread-like behind. The color is gray, with a 

 bronzy lustre, and a black streak runs along each side. 



THE next family of Lizards contains only one species, the OPHIOMORE (Ophimorus 

 milioris), and is separated from the skinks and the sepsidae on account of a formation 

 of the scales of the head, which seems to place it in an intermediate position between 

 those two families. There are no external limbs, and the whole body and tail are long, 

 cylindrical, tapering, and serpentine in aspect. The color of the Ophiomore is brown 

 above, covered with numerous tiny black dots arranged in regular lines along the body, 

 and being larger upon the sides. The under parts are white, and the sides are gray. 

 It is a native of Northern Africa, and has been brought from Algiers. 



IN the SEPSIDAE, a family which contains seven genera, there are always external 

 limbs, mostly four in number, but in one genus, Scelotes, the front pair of legs are 

 wanting, and the hinder pair are small and divided at the extremity into two toes only. 



The typical species of this family is the common SEPS, or CICIGNA, a curious snake-like 

 Lizard, found in various parts of the world, and not uncommon in many portions of 

 Europe. Specimens have been taken in the south of France, in Italy, Sardinia, Syria, and 

 the north of Africa. The name of Seps is of Greek origin, and signifies corruption . From 



