Glass-snake

Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 5: Friday to Humanitarians, p. 248

Glass-snake (Ophisaurus ventralis), a limbless serpent-like lizard (belonging to the short-tongued section) common in North America from Virginia to Florida. It is about 3 feet long, and varies greatly in colour. The joints of the tail break off readily on irritation, but are soon reproduced. The glass-snake feeds on worms, insects, mice, &c., chooses dry regions, and spends much of its time in holes underground. Only the above species is known, but a closely-allied genus (Pseudopus) occurs in southern Europe and Assam.

A detailed illustration of a Hyalonema sponge, showing its porous, irregular body and a long, thin, segmented tail.
Hyalonema.
Source scan(s): p. 0259