ccxvii 
iGUANiDiE. REPTILES. Ckotalid^. 
Oeder — LACERTILIA. 
'J’he Lizards. 
'1'his order embraces those Reptiles that liave an 
elongated body, with four limbs, and no shields, the 
body being- usually covered with overlapping scales. 
'I’he larger number are found in the warmer region. 
Family— IGUANIDiE. 
There are about sixty genera and one hundred 
and fifty species of this family, all found in South 
America and the Antilles. According to Holbrook 
four genera of this family are found in the United 
States. 
PINE-TREE LIZARD [Sceloporus undulatus ). — 
Called, also, the Swift, and Brown Swift (Tropido- 
lepis). An abundant and beautiful creature, in the 
Southern States. 
HORNED TOAD [Phrynoaoma douglassi). — Called, 
also, Teguexin. Found in Central America, and in 
western portions of the United States. Holbrook 
records three other species. They inhabit the region 
south of the Columbia River. 'I'he same author re- 
cords the following species additional under the 
family Iguanidce. 
GREEN LIZARD, OR CHAMELEON [Anolius caroli- 
nensis). — 'I'liis is an attractive creature, of graceful 
shape and movements, and is handsome green in 
color. Habitat along the Atlantic States to the 
Gulf of Mexico. Length six to eight inches. 
Family— ANGUID A3. 
The Glass Snakes. 
In this family there are limbs rudimentary and 
hidden under the skin. The internal structure is 
that of the Lizards, but having a Snake-like form. 
GLASS SNAKE [OpMsaurus ventralis.) — 'I’his is 
eminently a serpentiform creature. There are no ex- 
ternal limbs. 'I'he tail is very brittle, and the animal 
has from that fact been regarded as so fragile that a 
sharp blow will “fracture” the body. 'I’he truth is, 
there is a thin transverse septum between the verte- 
braj, and this is the point where separation so readily 
takes place. It inhabits 'I’ennessee to Kansas, and 
southward. 
Family — 'l’EIDA3. 
'I’he 'fEGDEXINS. 
'J’his family derives its name from some local des- 
ignation. '[’he species are all of the New World. 
'I’here are twelve genera and about forty species. 
THE SIX-LINED LIZARD ( Gnemidophorus sexlinea- 
tus). — Called, in the South, 'I’araquira. It inhabits 
the States from Virginia to Mexico. 'I’his is Amicra 
ot Linnaeus. 
Family— SCINCIDAE. 
'I’he Skinks. 
Fifty genera and one hundred and fifty species of 
this family are known, distributed throughout various 
parts of the world. 'I’he term Skink is from the 
Greek, merely meaning some kind of Lizard. 
BLUE-TAILED LIZARD [Eumecesfasciatus). — Very 
abundant in the Southern States, east of the Rocky 
Mountains. It is black, with fine yellow streaks, 
the middle one forked on the head. 'I’he tail is 
mostly blue. 
NORTHERN SKINK [E. septentrionalis). — Found 
in Minnesota and Nebraska. 
COAL SKINK [E.anthracinns). — Inhabits the Alle- 
ghanies, from Pennsylvania southward. 
GROUND LIZARD; MOCOS [Oligosoma laterale ). — 
Lygosoma lateralis, Linn ; Scincus unicolor, Har. 
'I’he generic name indicates small body. It is 
abundant in the Southern States, and north to 
Illinois. 
RED-HEADED SKINK [Plestiodon erythrocephalus). 
— DeKay records this as inhabiting Pennsylvania to 
Florida. Length, twelve inches. Holbrook gives 
the common name in the south as Scorpion. 'I’wo 
other species of Scincus are recorded by Holbrook — 
S. quinquelineatus and S. fasciatus, both exceedingly 
jnetty objects, inhabiting the Gulf States. 'I’he lat- 
ter is a synonym of the Blue-tailed Lizard (Eumeces 
fasciatus). 
Order — OPHIDIA. 
'I'he Serpents. 
'I’he Serpents, which are embraced in this order, 
areReptiles with an external covering of imbricated 
scales, but with no shields. 'J’he bones of the jaws 
are so connected by ligaments that an enormous di- 
latability is possible. 'J’here are no limbs, but very 
rudimentary appendages are in some species visible 
near the vent. 'I’he remarkable elongation of form, 
and absence of limbs, constitute the most distinctive 
features. We have followed the catalogue of Baird 
VoL. I. — e» 
and Girard [North Am. Reptiles in the Smithsonian 
Institution, Part I, Serpents) for an enumeration of 
Ophidia. 
Family — CRO'l’ALIDAE. 
'I’he Rattlesnakes are included in this group. 'I’he 
term Crotalus is from the Greek, meaning “ rattle,” 
referring here to the remarkable feature which char- 
acterizes most of the members of this family. These 
Serpents have no solid teeth, but there are two erec- 
tile, grooved poison fangs on the upper jaw. A dis- 
