Voyage Scientifiqae en Morce. 355 



The Ablepharis, Kitaibelii of Cocteau, a congener, which had only- 

 been seen in Hungary, was also observed. The form is longer and 

 more taper than that of the adjoining species. 



The Pseudopus Pallasii, the Scheltopusik of the south of Russia, 

 was found to be common in the Peloponnesus. This curious genus, 

 of which we owe the discovery to Pallas, and probably has not been 

 seen by many of our readers, is a serpent with a long finny membrane 

 on each side upon the under part of the body, which makes it a con- 

 necting link between the lizard and snakes. The first which was 

 seen was basking in the vernal sun after emerging from its winter 

 retreat, and was demolished instantly by our naturalists with the but 

 of their guns ; and they were surprised on examination to find it had 

 no fangs, and was consequently not venomous, reminding us of the 

 youthful zeal with which we used to attack the poor Anguis fragilis 

 or slow-worm, when it unfortunately came in our way. 



Many were subsequently taken, and were more mildly dealt with, 

 being kept alive about the houses in a half domestic state, to which 

 their mild and inoffensive manners enabled them to accommodate 

 themselves. Their powers of digestion must be considerable, for we 

 find the principal diet offered to them was hard boiled eggs, re- 

 minding us again of the practice of our younger days, as if animals 

 in a domestic state should be given the food most unlike that of their 

 natural habits. On one occasion, however, a pseudopus met with a 

 nest of young unfledged birds, which it soon demolished, and we have 

 no doubt fully enjoyed. The plate is good, the colour being more 

 russet and less green than that of the Prince Musignano, probably 

 owing to some difference in age or sex, or from the animal being 

 more recently killed than that figured in the Iconographia Romana. 



Another species is given as new under the name of P. Durvillii. 

 It is much smaller, and is striped and varied in colour. We cannot 

 help thinking it possible that it may be the young of the preceding 

 species. 



An Anguis or slow-worm, on which the name of A.punctuatissimus 

 has been conferred, seems to possess unequivocal claims to novelty, 

 the muzzle being narrower, the arrangement of the cephalic plates and 

 the disposition of colour differing from the common A. fragilis. The 

 upper part of the body is " cafe au lait ;" underneath it is grey, and 

 the whole dotted with very small black specks, forming longitudinal 

 lines round the body. 



Serpents. — A small yellow reptile, the Typhlops flavescens of 



