THE PYGOPUS. 
57 
The first family of this tribe is distinguished by the apparent absence of eyelids, those 
organs being only rudimentary and scarcely visible, so as to give to the eyes a superficial 
resemblance to those of the serpents. On account of this peculiarity, the reptiles belonging 
to this family are termed the Gape-eyed Skinks. Their bodies are spindle-shaped, their 
tongues are scaly, nicked at the tip, their teeth are conical, and their limbs are four in 
number, and verv feeble. 
These creatures are found in various parts of the globe, but Australia seems to be their 
favorite home. The Pete, or Australian Tiliqua {Crytoblepharus boutonii ), is a good 
example of the Gape-eyed Skinks, or Gymnophtiialmidje, a long name derived from two 
Greek words signifying naked-eyed. As its name imports, this reptile is a native of Western 
Australia, but it is also found in other parts of the world, specimens having been taken 
in Timor and the Mauritius. The color of the Pete is olive, sometimes with a wash of 
bronze, mottled with brown, and variegated with little black streaks. Sometimes there is a 
bright yellow streak on each side. Its eyelid is circular and scaly, and the three upper scales 
are the largest. 
The next family is well represented by the Pygopus, or New Holland Scheltopusic, 
a curious reptile that inhabits Australia. 
PYGOPUS .— Pygopus lepidopus. (Two-thirds natural size.) 
This creature might easily be mistaken for the snake-like Lizard called the Scheltopusic, 
which has already been described on page 52, as the two fore-legs are entirely absent, and the 
hinder pair are very small, rudimentary, and set so closely against the body that they would 
escape a casual glance. They are flattish, covered with scales, and are not even divided into 
joints or toes, so that they are wholly useless for progression, the Pygopus creeping along after 
the ordinary fashion of snakes. 
If the creature be turned on its back, a curious arrangement of scales is seen. Between 
the bases of the lower limbs, several large, shield-like scales are seen, and just above them is a row 
of rather long and arched scales, extending in a semicircular form from one limb to the other, 
and looking much like the stones that are set upon the summit of an arched doorway. Each 
of these scales is pierced with a circular pore, so that the general effect is very striking. The 
whole body of this reptile is very long in proportion to its width, and it has altogether a very 
serpentine aspect. 
The head of the Pygopus is rather short, and is covered above with some rather large 
shields, that upon the top of the head being equal to any two others in size. The scales 
Vol. ni.— 8. 
