CHAPTER III 



The Blind Burrowing Snakes. 



Family I.— Typhlopid^. 



These snakes are worm-like in appearance, with cylindrical 

 bodies and blunt tails. They are covered with tiny closely- 

 fitting scales, and their eyes are more or less rudimentary. 

 They burrow in the ground, especially in soft loamy and sandy 

 soils, and feed upon small lizards, ants, larvae, worms, beetles and 

 other insects. They are usually found under stones, loose soil, 

 and decaying leaves and wood. Occasionally, after a shower of 

 rain, they appear above ground in search of insects, which issue 

 forth from their retreats at this time. The jaws of this family of 

 snakes are not capable of much distension, as is the case with the 

 more highly evolved or specialized snakes, consequently they 

 cannot swallow large prey. Their upper jaws are armed with 

 small, sharp teeth, but the lower jaws are toothless. They are all 

 quite non-venomous and can be safely handled. They make nice 

 pets, and soon grow very tame, and thrive if kept in a box con- 

 taining sand in which they may burrow, and supphed with water 

 and insects, especially termites and their larvae. If the cage be 

 placed out in the sun they come to the surface to bask, their 

 bodies glittering like burnished metal. 



All the different species lay eggs, which are large in proportion 

 to the size of the snake. This family of snakes, and the followng 

 family [Glauconidce) constitute the hnk between the more highly- 

 specialized snakes and lizards from wliich snakes have evolved. 

 There are over loo species or kinds of Typhlops snakes inhabiting 

 various parts of the world, ten of which live in South Africa, south 

 of the Zambesi. These Burrowing Snakes still possess rudiments 

 of a pelvis, which indicates that their remote ancestors had legs. 

 50 



