SEPSID^E. 101 



rostral shield of the former was formed of the united rostral, 

 supra-nasal, and nasal shields of the present family, and of the 

 Scincidce. It has an elongate, cylindrical body, without external 

 limbs, and the ears are hidden under the skin ; the eyes are dis- 

 tinct, with valvular eyelid ; and the scales of the body and some- 

 what elongate tail are hexagonal. 



The Sepsidce differ from the preceding, and also from the great 

 family of the Scincidce, by having the nostrils placed in the front 

 edge of a small shield, in a notch at the hinder side of the rostral 

 plate, which latter is rather large and square. The eyes are dis- 

 tinct, the lower eyelid scaly, or with a transparent disk. Body 

 fusiform or sub -cylindrical, elongate. These reptiles burrow in dry 

 sand, and are peculiar to the anciently-knowncontinents and certain 

 islands. Some have a wedge-shaped head, with prominent rostral 

 plate. Of these the genus Sphenops has more developed limbs, 

 each dividing into four toes ; and the only species, S. sepsoides, 

 inhabits Egypt and other parts of North Africa. Spkenocepkalus 

 has a more slender and elongate shape, and the limbs are placed 

 more distantly apart ; the anterior minute, and fitting into a 

 groove, the posterior as large as in Sphenops, and each of them 

 having but three toes, of which the innermost and next are sub- 

 equal, and the outer much shorter. The only known species, 

 S. triclactylus, is common in Afghanistan. In Scelotes the ante- 

 rior limbs disappear altogether ; and the only known species, 

 S. bipes, inhabits South Africa. Other genera have a pyramidal 

 head, with the rostral plate erect, and rounded in front. Such are 

 the five following, each founded on a single species : Gongylus 

 ocellatuSy from North Africa and the borders of the Mediterranean ; 

 Thyrus Bojeri, from the Mauritius ; Amphiglossus astrolabi, from 

 Madagascar; Seps tridactylus, from the south of Europe and 

 north of Africa ; and Heteromeles mauritanicus, from North 

 Africa. The last has only two toes to the fore-feet, three to the 

 hind ; and Seps has three toes to each foot, while the other three 

 genera have five to each foot. In general these animals are found 

 in dry and elevated spots, where they hide themselves in the sand 

 or under stones. 



The Scincid(B have the head covered with shields, which are 

 symmetrically arranged. Tongue slender, free, extersile, termi- 



