CIIPROTES, a genus of Saurian'' separated by Cuvier, and, accord ing to him, resembling the Chaleida in their vertieillated scales, and the Amp/ask-7ex still more in the obtuse form of their head; but distinguished from the first by their want of posterior feet, and from the last by their possession of anterior limbs. The same author adds, In a note to the last edition of the ' Itagne Animal,' that the genera which terminate this order of Saurian'' are interposed in various manners between the ordinary Saurian and the genera which aro placed at the head of the order Ophidians to such a point, that many naturalists are now of opinion that the two orders ought no longer to be separated. or rather that one order should be established, com prising on the one part the Saurian'', with the exeeptioo of the Crocodilidce, end on the other the Ophidians of the family Anguidw. But he observes that there exist, among the fossil forma of the ancient calcareous beds, two very extraordinary genera (leldhyosattrus and Plesiosaurus), which, with the head and trunk of a Saurian, have feet attached to short limbs, and formed of a multitude of small articula tions conjoined so as to form a kind of peddle or fin, like the anterior paddles or fin-feet of whales. These ought, he adds, to form A very distinct family. lo their osteology they approach the Saurian, properly so called, much nearer than the Crocodiles, with which Fitzinger associates them in his family Lorienta ; though In the fossils there is no trace either of scales or of the tongue, the two parts on which the characters of the Loricaa rest.
These Bimanous Reptiles, As Cuvier terms them, include, according to him, but one species, which is a native of Mexico. This is the Broasnc Cannel6 (Chirac" ennalieulatus) of envier, Bipasle Canne16 of Lac6pacle, CAaracsaura props" of Schneider, and Laerrtoluinbricoitles of Shaw. The animal has two short feet with four toes on each (and the vestige of a fifth) sufliciently organised internally, and attached by moans of scapulte,clevieles, and a email sternum ; but the head, the vortebne, and, in short, all the rest of the skeleton resemble that of the A stphishamir. Dr. J. E. Gray refers Chirac, to a third family of the Amphishaenians which he calls Chirotid4r.
C.7eirotes canalieulatus (C. lentbrecoities, Fleming; C. 3le.rieanus, Bory ; Ripe' canalieulatra, Bonnaterro ; Claimant arms props", Schultz ; Chalcides props", Daudiu), is about the size of a human little finger, and is from eight to ten inches long. It is of a fierh.colour, and covered with about 220 demi-rings on the back, and as many under the belly, which meet, in alternating, on tho aide. The tongue is but little extensile, and is terminated by two small horny points. The eye is very minute. The tympennin is covered with skin and invisible externally. Above the vent are two linen of pores. It is a native of South America.