Mr. Bell on a new Genus of Amplusbicnid<c. 391 



Art. LI I. Description of a new Genus of Reptilia of the 

 family of Amp/iisb(BnidcE. By Thomas Bell, Esq., F' R. 

 <S- L. S., 3,-c, 



Fam. AMPHiSBiENiDjE. (Aniphisbsenoidea, Fitzinger.) 

 Genus Anops, nobis. 

 Char. Gen. Pec?e5nulli. ^nnuli thoracici completi. Rostrumipov- 

 rectum, scutello arcuato, compresso tectum. Oculi sub scutellis laten- 

 tes. Linea lateralis depressa. Cauda breviuscula, obtusa. Pori 

 prcE-anales nulli. 



Anops Kingii. 

 Corpore supra fusco, infra albido. 



Tab. xvi, fig. 1. 

 Habitat in America Australi. 

 Exstat in Museo nostro. 



This interesting little animal forms one of the numerous additions 

 made, by the indefatigable researches of Capt. King, to the Natural His- 

 tory of that part of South America, which formed the subject of his late 

 important survey. 



As in the rest of the Amphishcenidce, the body is long, slender, and 

 cylindrical ; becoming however rather smaller towards the tail, which 

 terminates obtusely. The scales, which are arranged in complete rings 

 around the body, are all quadrangular, and generally equilateral, ex- 

 cepting those near the lateral line, and on the tail, which are longer 

 than they are broad. The lateral line is slightly depressed, forming a 

 small channel, more distinct than in Amphisbcena, though less so than 

 in Chirotes, and extending nearly the whole length of the body on each 

 side. There is not, externally, any appearance either of anterior or of 

 posterior members. The head is covered laterally with about eight or 

 nine pairs of small flat scutella, and is protected above and in front, by a 

 single one, which is arched and compressed so as to form a sharp edge, 

 and projects corxsiderably beyond the lower jaw. The eyes are so com- 

 pletely hidden under a pair of the small plates which cover the sides of 



