THE GEISSOSAURI. 55 



The next family, the Anadiad^e, contains, as far as is known, only one species, the 

 Eyed Anadia {Anadia ocellata), thought to inhabit tropical America. In this creature the 

 lower eyelids are pellucid, the scales of the back and sides six-sided and not overlapping each 

 other, while those of the abdomen are squared. The limbs are four in number, and there are 

 five unequal and rather flattened toes on each foot. The color of this species is pale brown, 

 with a bronze gloss, deepening on the sides, and having some white spots edged with black 

 towards the front. Beneath it is shining white. 



■- 



In the family of the Chirocolid^e there is likewise only one species, called the Chiro- 

 cole (Heterodactylus imbricatus), a native of Brazil. This creature has a double collar, and 

 the ears are hidden beneath the skin. The scales of the back, the sides and the tail, are six- 

 sided, rather sharp, arranged in regular rings, and furnished witli keels. Those of the abdo- 

 men are squared and arranged longitudinally in six rows. There are four short legs, with five 

 toes on each foot, the thumb of the fore-limbs being only rudimentary. The color of the 

 Chirocole is brown, with a pale streak on each side. 



The fourth family is the Cercosaurid.e, containing two genera. These animals have the 

 ears distinct, the throat with a double series of shields, and the collar distinct. On the back 

 and upper part of the tail the scales are large, boldly keeled, and arranged into a regular 

 longitudinal series. The scales of the under portions are squared and fiat. There are four 

 limbs, each with five unequal toes. A good type of this family is afforded by the Eyed Cer- 

 cosaurus (Cercosaura ocellata). The body of this creature is long and rather cylindrical. Its 

 color is black, with four white streaks, the head and the under parts are yellowish, and the 

 sides are sprinkled with green, and variegated with eight or nine white spots edged with black. 



Our last example of the Cyclosaurian reptiles is the Anguine Lizard, or CiiAMiEsAURA, 

 the only representative of its family. 



The Anguine Lizard is a native of Southern Africa, and is obtained from the Cape of Good 

 Hope. Of its habits there is but little known. It is a curious-looking creature, exceedingly 

 snake-like in general appearance, its four limbs being of the most rudimentary character, 

 small, delicate, feeble, not even separated into toes at the extremity, but ending in a single 

 claw, as if the whole limb were only composed of one small joint. These imperfect limbs are 

 wholly useless for progression, those of the anterior extremity being hardly larger than the 

 long, narrow scales with which the body is covered, and the hinder pair exhibiting but very 

 little more development. 



So perfectly serpentine is the form of this creature, that the mark of separation between 

 the tail and body is so slightly defined that the precise line of junction is almost invisible ; 

 whereas, in the common blind-worm, itself a most snakedike reptile, the line of demarcation is 

 plainly shown by a decided diminution in the diameter. The tail is very long and slender, 

 measuring more than twice the length of the body. 



The head of the Anguine Lizard is covered with regular, many-sided shields, and the 

 temples, and the whole of the body and tail are clothed with scales, their edges projecting 

 boldly, and arranged in a series of regular rings, or "whorls." Along the back there are six 

 rows of broad scales, and on the sides and abdomen the scales are lone, narrow, and with a 

 decided keel running along their central line. There is no groove along the sides, which are 

 rounded. Upon the head the plates are rather long, keeled, and project very slightly over 

 each other. The ears are distinct. The color of the Anguine Lizard is brown, and along each 

 side runs a long yellow streak. 



GEISSOSAURI. 



A second tribe of Lizards now comes before our notice. These are the Geissosauri, a 

 title derived from two Greek words, the former signifying the eaves of a house, and the latter 

 a Lizard. As in this tribe there are many families, and more than eighty genera, it will be 



