SOINKS. 105 



for its supposed medicinal properties. Indeed, this notion still 

 prevails in Hindustan, into which countrj- dried specimens of both 

 this reptile awA of Sphenocephalus iridadylus (p. 101) are brought 

 by Afghan traders, and are sold in the bazars. Both of these are 

 Sand Lizards, which burrow into the sand with great rapidity. 



We now come to the TropidophoriniB, or second sub-family of 

 Scinks indicated hj Dr. Gray {vide^. 102), which have always well- 

 developed limbs, the body only moderately elongated, and the 

 scales variously keeled. Several species of larger size appertain to 

 this series, as the Cyclodus gigas of Australia, and the curious 

 Stump-tail Lizards, Tracliydosaurus rugosus and T. asper, of the 

 same insular continent, which latter have most prominently rugous 

 scales, and the tail literally appearing like the short and abrupt stump 

 of one. Egernia Cunningkami and Tropidolesma (of diiferent species) 

 are other comparatively large Australian Lizards ; and examples of 

 most of those that have been mentioned may generallj^ be seen 

 alive in the London Zoological Gardens, where the Cyclodus gigas 

 has bred and proves to be viviparous. Of the species of Euprepes, 

 of which several inhabit the Indian region, some (as the very 

 common E. riifescens) are viviparous, and others (as E. multica- 

 rinata) are oviparous. These have three more distinct, though not 

 prominent, keels upon each scale ; and the different species inhabit 

 both the Old World and the New, as well as Australia. The 

 Galliwasps ( Celesius) of the West Indies, and sundry other genera, 

 do not greaXly ditfer. Of Tropidophorus, which has exceedingly 

 rugged scales, the species inhabit the Indo-Chinese countries, and 

 one [T. cocinsinensis) is found likewise in the Philippines; while of 

 another {J". Eerdtnorei), in Burniah, Mr. Theobald remarks that 

 "its scales are dull and lustreless, and the coloration peculiar for a 

 Scink. It harbours under half-immersed stones, and enters the 

 water and gravel freely." In several of this family of Lizards 

 the scales are beautifully iridescent, and manj^ of them show 

 longitudinal jsale or white lines, or are otherwise variegated. 



Nearly akin to the extensive family of Scincidce, there are three 

 small families (as classed by Dr. Gray), the species of which 

 are peculiar to Australia. They have small, rmdivided, posterior 

 limbs ovAj, or are quite limbless. These families are the Ekdisidce, 

 founded on three or more species of a single genus, Licdis ; the 



