IRLOSIPIIDAEINIY Ole AUNTS) 
along each side, of which the use is problematical. It 
has the reputation of being tamable and intelligent. 
Lizards generally show a tendency to lose their limbs. 
There are many other families in which some members 
have reduced themselves to the condition of grovelling 
along upon their bellies. Always, however, there is 
some trace recognizable by the anatomist of the other- 
wise missing appendages. The most thoroughly snake- 
like of living lizards are the amphisbzenas, a race 
which is chiefly American and African. But even here 
there is one genus in which the fore limbs are retained. 
There are not uncommonly amphisbeenas to be seen 
at the Zoo. The name is at most as ridiculous as that 
of blind-worm, and has been given to them on account 
of their short tail and blind face, rendering thus a 
confusion between anterior and posterior possible, 
except to the careful observer. The tropical American 
AmpIsbena is especially fond of taking up its quarters 
with ants, for choice the sauba ant. The ants, as a 
rule a bloodthirsty race, apparently regard these crea- 
tures with affection, or at least do not interfere with 
them. But then ants have queer hospitable notions 
towards various creatures of the animal world, and an 
ant-hill generally contains an odd assortment of beetles 
living under their protection, and apparently incapable 
of living anywhere else. The ants are, like the brigands 
of the transpontine melodrama, bloody and fierce as 
a rule, but occasionally yielding to the softer emotions. 
Their apparently bidden guests, so varied in character 
and kind, remind one of the curious assemblage, the 
cat, the black servant Frank and blind Miss Williams, 
collected beneath his roof by Dr. Johnson. As to the 
Amplisbena, Mr. Bates remarks that it is exceedingly 
sluggish and remains within the ant-hill all day, and 
only comes forth at night. Naturally the native 
thinks the Amphisbena poisonous ; he also states that 
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