24^4 CLASS UEPTILIA. 



We have one species of them very common in 

 all Europe, {Anguis Fragilis, L. Lacep. II. xix. 1.) 

 with very smooth, shining scales ; silvery yellow 

 above, blackish underneath, three black threads 

 along the back, which change with age into divers 

 series of points, and end by disappearing totally. 

 Its tail is of the length of the body. This animal 

 reaches to the size of a foot and some inches. It 

 lives on worms and insects, and is viviparous.* 



These three subgenera have still an imperfect 

 pelvis, a small sternum, an omoplate, and a clavicle, 

 concealed under the skin. 



The absence of all these osseous parts, also neces- 

 sitates the separation from the snakes of the sub- 

 genus which I shall name. 



fc> 



AcONTIAS,t 



And which resembles them by the structure of the 

 head and the eyelids, but which has no sternum 

 nor vestige of shoulder or pelvis. Their anterior 

 ribs are united, one to the other under the trunk, 

 by cartilaginous prolongations. I have found in 

 them but one moderately sized lung, and one very 



* The Anguu Erix, L. is only a young common snake in which the 

 dorsal lines are still well marked ; and the Anguis Clivicus, of which Dau- 

 din makes an erix without any obvious reason, is an old common snake, 

 with truncated tail. It is only mentioned after Gronow, who quotes the 

 coluber of Gesner, which is the old common snake. 



-|- Acontias (Javelin), the Greek name of a serpent, which was supposed 

 to dart like an arrow on the passengers, (anovn^ix'^jaculor.) 



