3545. Scales, the usual kind of teeth and tongue; inferior maxillæ anchylosed in front, mastoid bone not freed, mostly feet and eyelids.
They divide likewise into three families.
Fam. 7. Worm-Reptiles, Tunny-like—Schleichen.
Body round and serpentiform, with small scales, feet rudimental, or even wanting.
Here belong the Cæciliæ, Blind-worms, and Scinci. I have united these animals, which elsewhere have stood dispersed among the Serpents and Lizards as well as the Salamanders, and placed them as a distinct family between the two former. By reason of their rudimental feet they keep simply upon the earth and bore themselves passages therein. Their motion is serpent-like, because they lie upon the belly and cannot assist themselves with the feet.
Fam. 8. Crustacean Reptiles, Bream-like—Schuppenechsen.
Four perfect feet, body covered all round with small granular scales, tongue short and hardly slit.
Here belong the Flying Lizards, the Iguanæ and Basilisks. They usually climb about on trees and seek for beetles and berries.
Fam. 9. Ptilotoid Reptilia, Perch-like—Schienenechsen.
Four perfect feet, but plates upon the belly and tail, tongue thin and bifid. Here belong the common Lizards and the "Sauvegards" or Monitors. Their body is usually depressed. They cannot climb, but run about briskly upon the ground and eat beetles, and even the higher animals. Many are a fathom in length.