CLASS III. REPTILIA: ORDER 3. SAURIA. 
373 
do not possess these organs, and might, perhaps, with equal propriety, be classed with the 
Ophidia. The prominent characteristics of the true Sauria are, that the bones of the upper jaw 
and the face are firmly attached to the skull, so that they are incapable of any independent mo- 
tion, and the lower jaw moves only from a single point ; both jaws are armed with teeth, gener- 
ally confined to the jaws ; in some the tongue is long, slender, horny, bifid, and inclosed in a 
sheath, from which it can be protruded at pleasure ; in others it is thick, fleshy, and attached to 
the back of the mouth. The development of the extremities is variable, some being as destitute 
of external limbs as the snakes ; others have them well developed. 
The immense number and great variety of these animals render their classification a matter 
of some difficulty ; we shall not attempt to follow the details of any of the various systems. In 
our descriptions of species we can give but comparatively few examples ; these, however, will 
convey an adequate idea of the whole. We shall present them under the following heads : the 
Typhlopidce, Amphisbcenidce, Oymnophthalmidce^ Scincidce, Chalcidce, Lacertidce, Ameividce, Va- 
ranidce, GecJcotidce, Iguanidce, Agamidce^ and Chameleontidce. 
THE TYPHLOPID^. 
These creatures derive their name from Typhlos and ops^ words signifying '■'•having a blind appear- 
ance^'' and this truly characterizes the family. They are small snake or worm-like animals, nearly 
cylindrical in form, and quite destitute of limbs ; the head is covered with shields, and the tail is 
short and rounded off" at the end ; the tongue is long and forked. The eye is reduced to a point, and 
is scarcely visible through the skin. One species, the Typhlopshraminus^ has the head of the size 
of the body, and is compared by Cuvier to a small piece of fine pack-thread. Another, the T. 
Philipjnnus, is eight inches long, of a blackish color, and is entirely blind. These creatures are 
found in the hot parts of both continents. They live in holes in the ground and under stones, 
and sometimes bury themselves three feet deep during the rainy season. 
THE AMPHISB^KID^. 
The term AmpMsbcena signifies an " animal that can ivalJc in both directions^'' and is applied 
to this family because the}^ proceed either backward or forward, as occasion may require. This 
habit has given rise to the idea that they have two heads, and consequently they have been called 
Double-headed serpents. Many superstitions in regard to them were formerly current ; one species 
which was blind was said to be fed by ants, 
and was called King of the Ants, and their flesh, 
dried and powdered, was esteemed a cure for 
broken or dislocated bones. 
These creatures have a vermiform appearance ; 
the skin is annulated and divided into square 
shields by transverse and longitudinal furrows. 
The head is of the same size as the neck, and 
the tail is rounded ofi^. The tongue is thick, 
short, and not sheathed ; the eyes are small, 
destitute of eyelids, and sometimes hidden under 
the skin; the majority are quite destitute of 
limbs ; they live in the ground, and feed upon 
insects. The only known species are found in 
the hot parts of South America. 
Genus AMPHISB^N A : AmpMsbcena. — 
This includes the Brown Amphisb^na, A. full- 
ginosa, eighteen to twenty -four inches long, of a 
brown color, the body surrounded by over two 
hundred rings ; the eyes covered by a membrane, 
though the animal is not blind. It lives on worms 
and insects, particularly ants, in the hills of which it usually conceals itself. It has no fangs, and 
THE BROWN AMPHISB^NA. 
