444 DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE AMPHISBENIANS. — [May 23, 
7. Bronia brasiliana. Brazil. 
8. Sarea ceca. W. Indies. 
9. Cadea punctata. Cuba. 
10. Anops kingiit. Buenos Ayres. 
Fam. Lepidosternide. 
11. Lepidosternon microcephalum. Brazils. 
12. L. grayiit. Tropical America. 
13. L. phocena. Buenos Ayres. . 
Tribe Cepholopeltine. 
14. Cephalopeltis lepidosterna. Brazils. 
The rings of oblong scutella on the skin are in most species inter- 
rupted on the sides, and in some species also on the vertebral line ; 
these interruptions form a more or less wide depressed groove on the 
surface of the body, and are called the lateral and dorsal lines. 
The skin at this interruption is usually marked at each transverse 
ring with two oblique grooves, which form a cross and divide the 
space into four minute triangular shields; in some cases, where the 
line is wider and less sunken, the transverse ring of shields is only di- 
vided at the sunken line by a single oblique groove caused by the 
tapering end of one of the oblong shields going before the end of the 
other. Sometimes this is the case with the dorsal line, and not with 
the lateral one. In some species, instead of only the four triangular 
shields in the lateral line, the shield between the cross groove is di- 
vided into several minute scale-like shields. 
In some of the larger species, as Amphisbena alba, some of the 
rings of shields are marked with an oblique groove crossing several 
shields, dividing each of them into two parts; but these seem to be 
mere individual variations occurring on several parts of the back 
of some specimens, and not present in others. 
Duméril and Bibron give the number of the teeth as one of the 
specific characters. Ihave not been able to verify their observations; 
they give the following as the number. There seems to be always an 
odd number of intermaxillary teeth, the middle one being usually 
large. 
se ee : Sy. 
Trogonophis wiegmanni .......... rea | 
. ° Soy 33 13 
Charotes canteulatus ..cecesss oss s 0k +s ihe 
e s 5.565 15 
Amphisbena americana et A. alba...... Soa Hie 
5.7.5 17 
CEH CM eiale iota hs aa, Pete ae ele are eae 
Susie 4.7.4 15 
LOATIDIN UE Se ea Bette a ta) heats 77 = 
Sasa CRCO Ce rt ee eas Bebsbz 1s 
707 14 
Cadempunctata’ Clr re ee an ae a Pad 
8.8 16 
Anops kingii .. 4.7.4 15 
Blanus cinereus 
