The skink, which has given the name to the whole family, is a small lizard (_Scincus officinalis_) of 6 or 8 in. in length, common in arid districts of North Africa and Syria. A peculiarly wedge-shaped snout, and toes provided with strong fringes, enable this animal to burrow rapidly in and under the sand of the desert. In former times large quantities of it were imported in a dry state into Europe for officinal purposes, the drug having the reputation of being efficacious in diseases of the skin and lungs; and even now it may be found in apothecaries' shops in the south of Europe, country people regarding it as a powerful aphrodisiac for cattle. _Mabouia_, with many species, in the whole of Africa, southern Asia and in tropical America. _M. (Euprepes) vittata_, the "poisson de sable" of Algeria, is semi-aquatic. _Chalcides s. Seps_, of the Mediterranean countries and south-western Asia, has a transparent disk on the lower eyelid which is movable; limbs very short or reduced to mere vestiges. _Lygosoma_ circumtropical; _Eumeces_, also with many small species, in America, Africa and Asia. _Cyclodus s. Tiliqua_ of Australia, Tasmania and Malay Islands, has stout lateral teeth with rounded-off crowns; _C. gigas_ of the Moluccas and of New Guinea is the largest member of the family, reaching a length of nearly 2 ft.; the limbs are well developed, as in _Trachysaurus rugosus_ of Australia, which is easily recognized by the large and rough scales and the short, broad, stump-like tail. Family 12. _Anelytropidae._--An artificial assembly of a few degraded Scincoids. The worm-shaped body is devoid of osteoderms. The tongue is short, covered with imbricating papillae and slightly nicked anteriorly. Teeth pleurodont. _Anelytropsis papillosus_, of which only three specimens are known, from the humus of forests in the state of Vera Cruz. Eyes concealed. _Typhlosaurus_ and _Feylinia_ in tropical Africa and Madagascar. Family 13. _Dibamidae._--_Dibamus novae-Guineae_ of New Guinea, the Moluccas, Celebes and the Nicobar Islands. Tongue arrow-shaped, covered with curved papillae. The vermiform body is covered with cycloid imbricating scales, devoid of osteoderms. Limbs and even their arches are absent, excepting a pair of flaps which represent the hind-limbs in the males. Family 14. _Gerrhosauridae._--Pleurodont. Tongue long, with papillae, like that of the _Lacertidae_ but only feebly nicked anteriorly. Osteoderms on the head and body, roofing over the temporal region. Femoral pores present, also mostly a lateral fold. Limbs sometimes reduced to small stumps. Tail long and brittle. The few genera and species of this family are restricted to Africa, south of the Sahara and Madagascar.