THE 
OFFICINAL SCINK. 
JES ICRI Peta 
GENERIC CHARACTER, 
| Body elongated, four-footed, tailed; without 
any secondary integument. 
/ 
SPECIFIC CHARACTER, 'c. 
Yellowish-brown Lizard, with transverse brown 
bands on the upper part, short tail with 
compressed tip, and up pet jaw longer than 
the lower. 
The Common or Officinal Scink. 
Sn 
‘The Common or Officinal Scink is a native of many 
of the Eastern parts of the world, and is common in 
Egypt, Arabia, Lybia, and Syria. It is usually found 
in dry sandy soils, and grows to the length of seven, 
eight, or even ten inches: the whole animal is of a 
pale yellowish-brown colour, marked by several broad, 
distant, transverse dusky stripes or bands, and is 
- covered with middle-sized fish-like scales of a smooth 
and glossy surface. It is an animal of a harmless na- 
_ ture, and supports itself on the various insects which 
wander about the regions it inhabits: The Scink was 
once celebrated for its medicinal powers in various dis- 
orders ; but the more illuminated cast oi modern prac- 
tice seems to have utterly exploded these imaginary 
 yirtues. 
