CH El ROTE 8, OR HAND-EARED LIZARD. 
39 
In speaking of this reptile, Steelman has the following remarks: “This is the snake 
which, supposed blind, and vulgarly said to be fed by the large ants, is in this country hon- 
ored with the name of King of the Emmets. The flesh of the Amphisbsena, dried and reduced 
to a fine powder, is confidently administered as a sovereign and infallible remedy in all cases 
of dislocation and broken bones, it being very naturally inferred that an animal which has the 
power of healing an entire amputation in its own case, should at least be able to cure a simple 
fracture in the case of another.” 
This process of reasoning alludes to a curious popular error respecting the Amphisbsena. 
The people of the countries which it inhabits believe that, if one of these reptiles is cut in two, 
each half, being furnished with a separate head, hastens to its fellow-part, and neatly fitting 
the severed surfaces, repairs the breach, and is soon restored to its original condition. 
It is rather a dull and sluggish animal when exposed to light, crawling slowly upon the 
ground, twisting itself lazily about, and opening its mouth in a purposeless kind of fashion, 
without any definite intention of biting or escaping. 
The color of the Sooty Amphisbsena is rather variable, but consists of black and white. 
Its length is about three feet. The White Amphisbsena ( Amphisboena alba) belongs also to 
this genus. It is of a white color, and remarkable for a little pellucid dot in the front edge of 
each scale. 
Closely allied to this creature is another reptile, very appropriately called the Chei- 
eotes, or Hand-eared Lizard ( Oheirotes lumbricbicles). This is a native of Brazil, and, as 
far as is known, is of subterranean habits, like the amphisbsena. 
The Cheirotes is the only example of all the amphisbsenas that possesses external limbs, 
and even in this instance they are small and but slightly developed. There are no hind legs, 
CHEIROTES, OR HAND-EARED LIZARD . — Cheirotes lumbneoides * 
I 
but the two fore legs are set just behind the head ; nearly in the place where the ears might 
be expected to be seen. They are very short, rather flat and strong, and are terminated with 
five toes, four of which are armed with a tolerably strong claw. The fifth toe is very small and 
without a claw. 
The head of this creature is no larger than the body, the teeth are conical, moderately 
strong and slightly curved backwards, the muzzle is arched, the tongue horny at the tip, the 
tail is short, and there is a row of small pores on the under side of the abdomen. In our illus- 
tration the animal is shown in its natural size, which varies from eight to ten inches. Its 
