70 THE TYPHLOPS. 



worm, and like that reptile is very common in the fields and under hedges. It is a South 

 African reptile, and is found abundantly at the Cape of Good Hope. 



In its coloring this is a very handsome little creature, being sometimes called the Painted 

 Acontias (by the French writers La Peintade), in allusion to the variegated tints vdth which 

 it is bedecked. Like many other reptiles, especially those which are lightly colored, it is siis- 

 ceptible of much variation. Generally, however, it is rich chestnut-brown above, profusely 

 dotted with bright yellow, tlie spots being arranged in series of varying number, one specimen 

 having eight rows of spots, while another has only six. The scales are smooth, the teeth are 

 conical and rather blunt, the eyes are very small, and the tail is short and rather rounded at 

 the tip. 



Another curious family of reptiles i")ossesses only two limbs at the most, the front pair 

 being always, and the hinder pair sometimes, wanting. There is a curious, cup-like shield on 

 the chin, the body and tail are cylindrical, and both eyes and ears are apparently absent, but 

 may be found hidden under the skin, where the greater part, if not the whole, of their func- 

 tions must be in abeyance. In consequence of this remarkable privation, they are classed 

 together under the very appropriate name of Typhlinidae, a term derived from the Greek, and 

 which signifies blindness. 



In the typical species, the Typhline, or Blind Acontias as it is sometimes, but rather 

 erroneously called, the limbs are entirely absent, and the creature looks about as helpless a 

 being as can well be imagined, having no apparent legs, feet, eyes nor ears. The Ty^ihline 

 inhal)its Southern Africa, and is found at the Cape of Good Hojae. In its coloring it is rather 

 variable, being generally of a brownish hue, with spots of purple upon the hinder part of the 

 scales of the back, and sometimes of a yellowish tint, with violet spots. 



There are so many reptiles scattered over the world, and they are divided by modern 

 systematic zoologists into so many families, that it is only possible to give a short description 

 of one or two examples of each family, while to supply illustrations would be wholly imprac- 

 ticable without nearly doubling the amount of space that can be allotted to them. 



The next family is called by the name of Typhlopsidse, or Blind Reptiles, a title which 

 has been given to them because their eyes are either very small, or altogether wanting exter- 

 nally. In all these animals the head is broad, rather flattened, and has a large, erect plate 

 near the muzzle. The mouth is small, semilunar in shape, and placed under the muzzle in a 

 manner somewhat resembling that of the sharks. The tail is cylindiical, and has a large shield 

 or plate at the tip, sometimes conical and sometimes spine-shaped. 



In the Typhlops, the typical species, the head is nearly covered by a single, very large 

 shield, which is rather bent downwards in front. The tail is very short and tapers suddenly, 

 and the scales of the body are small and uniform. It inhabits India, where it is not uncommon, 

 though, in consequence of its earth-loving habits, it is not very often seen except by those who 

 know its localities, and search purposely foi' the hidden reptile. It moves over the ground 

 with some rapidity, and burrows easily, penetrating to a deptli of three or four feet during the 

 rainy season. At other times it is mostly content with the shelter of lai'ge stones and similar 

 places of refuge. 



Owing to the small size and the rather remarkable position of the mouth, the Typhlops is 

 unable to act on the ofl'ensive, and when captured, although it attempts to glide through the 

 fingers, does not even offer to bite. It is wonderfully tenacious of life, and according to Dr. 

 Russell, ^\^^ live for some time even when immersed in spirits of wine. The general color of 

 the Typhlops is yellowish-white. 



This family contains also the Clawed Snake {Onijchophis) — so called because the bony 

 shield on the muzzle is erect, keeled, and bent over into a claw-like shape — and the Silver 

 Snakes {Argyrophls\ a small group of reptiles, deriving their popular name from the silvery 

 lustre of their scales. 



