186 REPTILIA. 



tremity of their tongue, the only part of their body which seems to be endow- 

 ed with quickness of motion, as in every thing- else they are remarkable for 

 their excessive slowness. The great extent of their lungs is probably the 

 cause of their faculty of changing colour, wliich takes place, not as is 

 thought in conformity with the hue of the bodies on which they rest, but 

 according to their wants and passions. Their lungs, in fact, render them 

 more or less transparent, compel the blood in a greater or less degree to 

 return to the skin, and even colour that fluid more or less vividly in propor- 

 tion to the quantity of air tliey contain. They always remain on trees. 



Lac. africana, Gm. (The Common Chameleon.) Thehood pointed and 

 rehevedby a ridge in front; the granules on the skin equal and close; the 

 superior crest indented as far as half the length of the back, the inferior to 

 the anus. The hood of the female does not project so much and the 

 denticulations of her crests are smaller. From Egypt, Barb ary, and even 

 the south of Spain, and India. 



FAMILY VI. 



SCINCOIDEA. 



The Scincoideans are known by their short feet, non-extensible 

 tongue, and the equal scales which cover the body and tail, like tiles. 



SciNCUs, Daud. 

 Four short feet; the body and tail almost one continued and uniform piece; 

 no enlargement of the occiput; without crest or dewlap, and covered with 

 uniform, shining scales, arranged like tiles, or those of a Carp. Some of 

 them are fusiform; others, more or less elongated, resemble Serpents, the 

 Unguis particularly, to which they are related by several internal affinities, 

 and which they connect with the family of the Iguanida, by an uninterrupted 

 suite of transitions. Their tongue is fleshy, but slightly extensible and 

 emarginate; the jaws every where fui-nished with small, closely set teeth. 

 In the eye, ear, &c., they bear a greater or less resemblance to the Iguanx 

 and Lizards; the feet are furnished with free and unguiculated toes. 



Seps, Daud. 

 Seps only differs from Scincus in the more elongated body, which is exactly 

 similar to that of an Anguis, and in the still smaller feet, the two pairs of 

 which are further apart. Their lungs begin to exhibit some inequality. 



BiPEs, Lacep. 

 A small genus, only differing from Seps in the entire absence of fore feet, 

 having the scapulae and clavicles concealed beneath the skin, the hind feet 

 alone being visible. There is but a step from it to Anguis. 



