438 MANUAL OF ZOOLOGY. 



external appearance of limbs, though the scapular and pelvic 

 arches are present in a rudimentary condition. Its appearance 

 is completely serpentiform, and it is vulgarly regarded as a dan- 

 gerous and venomous animal, but quite erroneously, as it is 

 even unable to pierce the human skin. It is a perfectly harm- 

 less animal, living upon worms, insects, and snails, and hyber- 



Fig. 170. — The Blind-worm {Anguis fragilis) — after Bell. 



nating during the winter. It derives its specific name oi frag- 

 ilis from the fact that when alarmed it stiffens, its muscles to 

 such an extent that the tail can be readily broken oflf, as if it 

 were brittle. 



Numerous other small Lizards are referable to the Scincidce, 

 but it is only necessary to mention the Skinks themselves 

 {Scincus), in which both pairs of limbs are present in a well- 

 developed state. The Skinks are found in almost all the 

 warmer parts of the Old World, and closely-allied forms (such 

 as the West Indian " Galliwasp ") are found in the New Woi'ld. 

 The common Skink (fig. 171) is a native of Arabia and Africa. 

 It attains a length of eight or nine inches, and was formerly 

 used in various diseases as a remedy. 



The next family is that of the Lacertidce, comprising the 

 typical Lizards, in which there are always four well-developed 

 limbs, each terminated by five free toes of unequal lengths^ 

 The body is covered with scales, which assume the form of 



