THE CAPISTRATED SPH^ENOPS. 



67 



ancient times to the present day, this harmless little reptile has been held in great dread 

 by the natives of the country wherein it dwells, being considered as a deadly enemy to 

 cattle, biting them at night during their sleep, and rilling their veins with corruption. 

 Horses, and especially mares, were thought to be the most frequent sufferers from the 

 bite of this reptile. 



The legs of the Seps are very weak, and set far apart, so that the creature trusts but 

 little to the limbs for its powers of locomotion, and wriggles itself along after the fash- 

 ion of the snakes. The food of the Seps consists of worms, small snails, slugs, insects, 

 spiders, and similar creatures, its general habits seeming to resemble those of the blind- 

 worm. Like the lizard, when the winter approaches, it burrows deeply in the loose soil, 

 and remains hidden until the succeeding spring. 



The teeth of the Seps are small, conical, and simple, and there are no teeth on the 

 palate, which is grooved longitudinally. The eyelids are scaly, and the lower has a 

 transparent disc. The toes are three in number on each foot, and very feeble ; the tail 

 is conical and pointed. The color of the common Seps is gray, with four longitudinal 

 brown streaks, which, on a closer inspection, are found to consist of a succession of brown 

 dots. 



SEPS, OR CICIQNA.-Seps trldactylus. 



Two members of the Sepsidae deserve a passing notice before we pass to the next 

 family. The first is the CAPISTRATED SPH^EXOPS (Sphcenops sepsoides). 



This reptile is a native of Northern Africa, but seems to have a rather restricted range, 

 being seldom if ever found out of Egypt. In some parts of that country it is very plenti- 

 ful, being found in the rice grounds, under hedges, and on the roads where the wheels 

 of passing vehicles have worn ruts. Indeed, it appears to have a predilection for ridged 

 ground, over which it passes with considerable speed, and is not to be captured without 

 the exercise of some agility. It is quite harmless, and even when caught, struggles with 

 all its might to escape, but does not attempt to bite the hand that holds it. Like many 

 other reptiles of similar form, it burrows in the ground, but makes its tunnel so near 

 the surface of the ground, and in so horizontal a direction, that the foot of a traveller 

 will often lay open the superficial retreat and render its inmate homeless for a time. 



