72 NOTICE OF SOME NEW AND RARE SPECIES OF SCINCIDA. 
The family of Scincide is divided by Duméril and Bibron into three sub-families,— 
viz. Ist. Scincidsee Sauropthalmide, having eyes resembling those of the greater part 
of the lizards, provided with two moveable eyelids closing the eye completely. 2nd, Scin- 
cid Ophiopthalmide, the eyes in which have only rudiments of lids, being uncovered, 
as in the serpents; the lids sometimes however forming a slight fold at the upper part of 
the orbit; 3rd, Typhlopthalmidz, in which the eyes are covered by the skin, as in Ty- 
phlops and Amphisboena. These sub-families are divided into thirty-one genera. 
The first sub-family, or the Sauropthalmide, is arranged in two groups, the first having 
extremities, with a variable number of fingers and toes, the second without extremities. 
Of the species belonging to the first, some have four, others but two extremities. There 
are eight genera to the first division. The tetrapod genera have either five toes to each 
extremity or less than five. The genera which have four toes in front, and posteriorly, 
are the Tetradactyles, but in Heteropus there are five behind, and in Champso-dactylus 
there are, as in the Crocodiles, four in front and five behind. In Nessia, Hemiurgis and 
Seps there are but three in front and three posteriorly. Four other genera have less than 
three, thus in Chelomeles, there are two in front, and two behind, but in Brachymeles, the 
posterior extremities have but one finger only. In Brachystopus there is but one in 
front, and two behind, and in Evesia there is but one in front and one posteriorly. 
Of the Sauropthalmide, which have only posterior extremities, Scelotes has but two toes; 
but Prepedites, and Ophiodes have no toes whatever. Lastly, in the great division of 
Scincoids with two moveable eyelids and without members, there are three genera, which 
were formerly ranked with the serpents, viz. Acontias, Anguis and Ophiomorus, in the 
second of which the nostril opens in a single plate, and in the last between two; the 
first being distinguished by having a large plate, enclosing like a case or tube, the whole 
of the muzzle. None of the Sauropthalmide have pores under the thighs, or upon the 
anterior margin of the cloaca; the toes are smooth below and without lateral denticula- 
tions, except in Scincus officinalis, the only species of Scincus, and the only instance 
which presents them among all the Scincidea. The second sub-family, or that of the 
Ophiopthalmidee, are divided like the first into two groups according to the number of ex- 
tremities. ‘These genera have four, and others only two behind. In the tetrapod species, 
Lerista has two fingers,*to the anterior extremities, three to the posterior; Ablepharus 
has five fingers, and five toes, and Gymnopthalmus but four of the former, and five of the 
latter. The Scincoid Ophiopthalmidz which have only two posterior feet are divided into 
two genera, the 1st Hysteropus, has the extremities simple, or not divided into toes, but 
flattened, and ramiform. In the second genus, or Liasis, these extremities are merely 
pointed filaments. The Typhlopthalmidee include but two genera. Ist, Typhlinus, which 
