Mr. Bell u7i a new Genus of Scincides. 395 



latter 5 — 5, whilst Lerista has 2 — 3. This trivial distinction, had it 

 stood alone, would scarcely have warranted me in giving to this animal 

 a new generic name, but would rather have called for a revision of the 

 characters of the two genera above named. The absence of external 

 ears, however, constitutes a character of no inconsiderable importance, 

 and, when combined with those above mentioned, and with the more 

 elongated and auguiform structure of the body, bears me out in consider- 

 ing it as a distinct genus. 



Its affinity to Mr. Gray's genus Saiphos is probably very close, as it 

 agrees with it in the concealment of the ears by the integument, and in 

 the absence of femoral pores, and approaches it in the comparatively 

 elongated body and small limbs. From this genus however it differs not 

 only in the number of the toes, but in the absence of eyelids. 



I have thought it necessary to enter into this rather lengthened detail 

 of the affinities and distinctions of this animal as compared with its con- 

 geners, not only to shew its actual relation to them, but also to exonerate 

 me from the charge of needlessly multipljnng genera; a fault which at- 

 taches to the Naturalists of the present day, almost as strongly as the 

 contrary error formerly did to the strict Linnseans. It has always ap- 

 peared to me, that a legitimate reason for the construction of a generic 

 character, and a fair claim to generic rank, exist, when we find such a 

 peculiarity of structure as evinces any n)arked difference in the habits of 

 the animal, from those most nearly related to it ; and such I believe to 

 be the case in the structure of the organs of hearing and of vision in the 

 genus Lerista. 



