SEPSID^. 



95 



each dividing into four toes, and the only species, S. sepsoides, 

 inhabits Egypt and other parts of North Africa. Sphenocephalies 

 has a more slender and elongate shape, and the limbs are placed 

 more distantly apart; the anterior minute, and fitting into a 

 groove, the posterior as large as in Sphenops, and each of them 

 having but three toes, of which the innermost and next are sub- 

 equal, and the outer much shorter. The only known species, 

 S. tridaclylus (Fig. 24), is common in Afghanistan. In Scelotes the 



Fig. 24. — Seps tridactylus. 



anterior limbs disappear altogether; and the only known species, 

 S. bipes, inhabits South Africa. Other genera have a pyramidal 

 head, with the rostral plate erect, and rounded in front. Such are 

 the five following, each founded on a single species : — Gongylus 

 ocellaius, from North Africa and the borders of the Mediterranean ; 

 Thyrus Bojerz, from the Mauritius ; Amphiglossus astrolabi, from 

 Madagascar; Seps tridactylus from the south of Europe and north 

 of Alrica ; and Heteromeles niauritanicus, from North Africa. The 

 last has only two toes to the fore-feet, three to the hind; and 

 Seps has three toes to each foot, while the other three genera 

 have five to each foot. In general these animals are found in dry 

 and elevated spots, where they hide themselves in the sand or 

 under stones. 



