(56 OPHIDIAN REPTILES. 



out till it is required to lubricate the dilated jaws and throat for 

 the seemingly disproportionate feat." 



[The small, but very distinct family of Erycidce have the body 

 of moderate length, cylindrical, covered with small and short 

 scales ; the tail very short, with only a single series of subcaudal 

 scales ; head somewhat elongate ; eye rather small, with vertical 

 pupil. Adult individuals have,, like the Pythons, a short 

 conical prominence in a groove on each side of the vent ; this 

 being the extremity of a rudimentary hind limb. " The Snakes 

 of this family," remarks Dr. Giinther, "shew great similarity to 

 the Pythons and Boas, with regard to their internal structure as 

 well as to their external characters. But their tail is very short, 

 not flexible, and much less prehensile ; and whilst the Serpents 

 just mentioned are more or less arboreal, frequenting marshy 

 places with luxuriant vegetation, the ErytidtB inhabit dry, sandy, 

 or stony plains, burrowing with the greatest facility below the 

 surface, and entering crevices and holes in search of their prey, 

 which consists of Mice, Lizards, and other burrowing Snakes. 

 Probably they are semi-nocturnal, and able to see in dark places 

 as well as in the night. They are found in Northern Africa, in 

 the islands of the Mediterranean, in the arid parts of India, and 

 probably in Arabia ; two species are known to have been brought 

 from Sikhim." 



The Cursoria elegans is said to be from Afghanistan ; Eryx 

 iaculus inhabits Greece and Egypt ; and there is also E. tkebaicus 

 in the latter country, and E. Johnii in India. Another Indian 

 species is the Gonyylophis conicus, which the natives erroneously 

 persist in declaring to be venemous. The Eryx Johnii is fre- 

 quently found in the possession of the serpent-charmers of its 

 native country, who mutilate the end of its short, thick tail in 

 such a manner that the scarred extremity somewhat resembles the 

 form of the head. Such specimens are shewn as deadly Two-headed 

 Snakes, and, as such, are occasionally brought alive to Europe. 

 An example of this species lived in the London Zoological 

 Gardens for about eight years, and fed regularly on young Mice. 

 The keeper assured Dr. Giinther that it frequently covered its 

 prey with saliva. It always kept itself hidden below the gravel 



