46 



REPTILE GALLERY. 



Order III. APODA, or LIMBLESS BATRACHIANS. 



'^' ' These are worm-like burrowing crea- 



tures, destitute of limbs, without or with 

 only a rudimentary tail, frequently with 

 small scales imbedded in the skin ; the 

 vertebrae are biconcave. About 35 species 

 are known, belonging to one family, 

 Coeciliidcs, which is found in tropical Africa, 

 the East Indies, and. tropical America. A 

 specimen of Siphonops annulatus, the com- 

 monest species in South America, and a 

 skeleton of Ichthyophis glutinosus, from the 

 East Indies, are exhibited. The species 

 figured (fig. 36) inhabits West Africa. 

 Very little is known of their habits ; the 

 majority seem to live buried in mud or very 

 soft moist soil, some in water. The ova are 

 of large size and few in number. Some 

 species are ovoviviparous. Ichtliy aphis 

 deposits its eggs, shortly after impregnation, 

 in a hole in damp earth. These eggs form 

 a small mass, which the mother protects 

 by coihng herself round it. 



In the embryo large external gills are 

 developed within the egg ; and the larva is 

 provided with an opening, or spiraculum, 

 on each side of the neck. 



JJrccotyihlus afru 



icantts. 



