SAUROPHTHALMI. 223 



head and belly, whilst the tail is obscurely maculated or speckled 

 with brown. 



Log. — Feejee Archipelago: "very common, especially in open 

 grounds, near the sea." 



Plate XXVI, fig. 25, represents Gryptoblepharus eximius, size of life. 



Fig. 26, is an upper view of the head ; 



Fig. 27, a profile; and, 



Fig. 28, an under view of the same region. 



Fig. 29, exhibits the left hand from above; 



Fig. 30, the same hand from beneath. 



Fig. 31, a group of dorsal scales. 



Fig. 32, a group of abdominal scales. 



Figs. 26-32, are somewhat magnified. 



SuBFAM. SAUROPHTHALMI. 



The eyelids are conformed as in the majority of Saurians, movable 

 or valvular, and approximating, so as to allow an entire closing up 

 of the eye. The auricular aperture is either visible exteriorly or 

 entirely hidden. The maxillary teeth are of various sorts. The 

 palate toothed or toothless. The body is fusiform or subcylindrical ; 

 the tail also subcylindrical, and tapering. The scales being either 

 smooth, keeled, or striated. Limbs four in number, more or less de- 

 veloped; sometimes two only: the posterior, rudimentary, or else none 

 at all exteriorly apparent. Fingers and toes varying in number. 

 Neither femoral nor preanal pores. 



Syn. — Saurophthalmes, CocT, Tab. synopt. Seine, in Coinpt. Rend. Acad, des So. IV, 

 1837, 17.— Ddm. & BiBR. Erpet. gen. V, 1839, 553. 

 Saurophthalmi, FiTZ. Syst. Rept. 1843, 22. 



Observ. — Though the members of this group represent the true 

 type of Seines in their Order, there are genera which, in their general 

 aspect, resemble so much the serpents, that several ancient authors 

 have associated them with the latter; the partial or total absence of 

 exteriorly developed limbs, and an elongated, snake-like body; and 



