REPTILES. O 



Dragons, and tlie flying of the Pterodactyles, 

 there is hardly any mode of animal progression 

 which is not to be found among the Reptiles." * 



The temperature of the blood does not require 

 that the body should be clothed with a substance, 

 such as hair or feathers, which might resist the 

 abstraction of animal heat. Hence the skin is 

 either quite naked, as in the Amphibia, or covered 

 with a sort of mail, composed of plates or scales, 

 for defence. 



It is in the warmer regions of the globe that 

 Reptiles most abound ; both as to the number 

 of species, and of the individuals which constitute 

 them. There also they display the greatest 

 variety of form and colour, the most gigantic 

 bulk, and the highest amount of animal energy. 

 The few species that inhabit temperate and cold 

 countries, commonly retire into concealment and 

 become torpid on the approach of winter. Yet 

 it has been remarked that they can more easily 

 bear the rigour of a severe winter, than suffer 

 the want of a hot summer. " It is interesting 

 to remark the manner in which, according to 

 Berghaus, the number of species diminishes as 

 we pass from the sunny regions of the East to 

 the duller and more cloudy climes of Western 

 Europe. Thus Italy with her islands can num- 

 ber forty-seven species ; France has thirty-one ; 



* Penny Cyclop, xix. 410. 



