ROOM X>] NATURAL HISTORY. 31 
head, like the true lizards, but the body, tail, and limbs are 
covered with uniform overlapping scales, which are gene¬ 
rally smooth and polished. These have only a small plate 
on the end of the muzzle, and two distinct eyelids. The 
True Seines ( Scinci ) have four legs, with small margined 
toes, and a sharp edged muzzle, which enable them to 
bury themselves with facility in the sand of the deserts 
they inhabit. The genus Sphcenops only differs from them 
in having simple toes and no apparent ears. Others have 
blunt noses, a spindle-shaped body with five toes to each 
of the four feet, as Trachysaurus, Egernia, Tiliqua. The 
first has large rugose bony scales, and a short depressed tail. 
The two latter have a conical tapering tail, and the second 
has spiny scales to the tail. The Lygosoma have very long 
slender bodies, and four very small, weak feet. The spe¬ 
cies of Seps are like the former, but have only three toes 
on each foot; and the Siaphos has the ears concealed un¬ 
der the skin. The Ophiodes are peculiar for having only 
two oblong lobes in the place of legs ; and the Blind- 
worms ( Angues ) have only rudiments of legs quite con¬ 
cealed beneath the skin. 
The family of GymnopJitlnalmidce (Case 5) chiefly 
differ from the former in their eyes being always exposed, 
and destitute of any lid, like the serpents, as Microlepis, 
Ablepharis , Lerista . 
The family of Rhodonidce (Case 5) differ from the Seines 
in having a large, depressed, sharp edged rostral plate with 
the nostrils in its upper part. Their eyelids are rudiment¬ 
ary, as Rhodona and Soridia . 
In the family of Acontiadce (Case 5) the face and chin 
are each enclosed in a large cap-shaped shield; the upper 
one is pierced with the nostrils, which have a groove to 
its hinder edge. Their bodies are nearly cylindrical, with 
blunt ends, and the limbs are hidden under the skin. 
The remainder of the Saurian Reptiles have a short 
contractile tongue, slightly notched at the end. 
The Geckos, ( Geckotidce , Case 4,) are night Lizards, 
having a dull, lurid appearance, with depressed heads, and 
large round eyes. Their body is usually covered with 
small scales, amongst which are frequently larger tubercles; 
and the under side of their toes is generally furnished with 
variously shaped overlapping scales, or folds of the skin. 
