SNAKES OF OBYLON. 



Family TYPHLOPID/E. 



(Named from the type Genus Typhlops.) 



General Characters. — This family includes the most diminu- 

 tive of ophidian forms, many of which in their adult form 

 attain to only 150 mm. (6 inches) or less. It includes also the 

 most degenerate forms. Head broad, and evenly rounded ; 

 snout short without a canthus, terminating in a broadly 

 rounded, or rarely in a beaked extremity. Eyes situated 

 beneath one or more shields, small, purbhnd. Nostril lateral 

 or inferior, and small. Mouth small, and situated beneath the 

 snout. Neck not evident. Body slender, or robust ; short, 

 moderate, or elongate ; cyhndrical, and of even calibre through- 

 out. Its scales are highly polished, and thus do not favour 

 the adhesion of soil to their surface. BeUy rounded. Tail 

 very short, conical, and in many ending in a smaU, acute spine 

 directed downwards, and backwards. 



Identification. — Known by the costals being broader than 

 long, the ventrals which are not enlarged, and the presence 

 of four supralabial shields. 



Habits. — Subterrestrial. They burrow nimbly. Locomo- 

 tion above ground is good, but on a smooth surface little or 

 no progress is made, despite much muscular effort. They are 

 extremely defenceless creatures, that only escape annihilation 

 from a host of rapacious foes by having adapted themselves 

 to a subterranean existence. As far as is known all are 

 oviparous. 



Food. — The larvse, pupae, and imagines of ants, and similar 

 insects. 



Poison. — They are not poisonous. 



Lepidosis. — The head is covered with large shields, of a type 

 and character peculiar to this family. 



Costals. — Broader than long, broadly rounded posteriorly ; 

 rectiform, smooth, and highly pohshed. In from 16 to 36 

 rows. Ventrals : Not enlarged, and therefore usually counted 

 with the costals, thereby making the rows an even number. 

 Anal : Absent, replaced by three or four scales. Subcaudals : 

 Not different from the supracaudals. 



