286 APODA. 



ORDER V. APODA. 



(Footless Amphibia.) 



We have seen by how gradual steps the Am- 

 phibia approach the Fishes ; we now come to a 

 group which links them, in a manner equally 

 interesting, to the Serpents. A zoologist no 

 less able than the illustrious Cuvier, actually 

 arranged them with the latter, by the title of 

 " naked Serpents." 



The form is snake-like, lengthened, cylindrical 

 through its whole length, without any trace of 

 limbs ; the skin apparently naked and covered 

 with a viscid secretion, but marked with nu- 

 merous annular wrinkles or folds,* within which 

 are concealed numerous rings of flat, delicate, 

 overlapping scales, very minute, resembling 

 those of fishes, their rounded edges being free. 

 The tail is very short, neither compressed nor 

 tapering, but ending suddenly with a round 

 or conical extremitv. The skeleton is fur- 

 nished with ribs, which are forked at the end 

 that joins the spine : the sternum, or breast- 

 bone, is wanting. The opening of the mouth 

 is rather small, the lower jaw is shorter than 

 the upper, and both are furnished with teeth, 

 which are long, sharp, and, for the most part, 



* Dr. iNIayer, however, considers these wrinkles to be no true 

 character, but as produced mainly by the contraction of the skin, by 

 means of the spirit in which the animals are presers^ed. 



