178 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1898. 



2. DISTRIBUTION AND HABITS. 



The Squamata are found iu all except the Arctic and Antarctic 

 regions of the earth. Their numbers, both in species and individuals, 

 increase as we approach the Tropics. They are preeminently terrestrial 

 animals, and are never found far from shore, excepting certain snakes 

 which live in the ocean. On land they inhabit all localities that supply 

 food and shelter, whether in trees, on the surface of the earth, or 

 beneath the surface, or along the shores of bodies of water. They are 

 for the greater part carnivorous, but certain lizards and a very few 

 snakes are herbivorous. 



The Squamata, like other reptiles, possess much muscular power, and 

 above all others many of them are capable of great speed of motion. 

 Many of the arboreal species climb with wonderful rapidity, and others 

 get over the ground with great swiftness. Such are especially the 

 Teiidffi, or swift lizards, who are almost invisible when running, and 

 some of the snakes. A few lizards {Aniblyrhynchus) are good swimmers, 

 while along all bodies of fresh water dwell snakes which are such 

 expert swimmers that they readily capture the fishes on which they 

 prey. The prehensile power of the Peropodous snakes is well known, 

 enabling them to kill small and medium-sized mammals by involving 

 them iu their coils. Certain of the snakes have none of the remarkable 

 powers of speed, prehension, or swiftness possessed by others, but are 

 protected by a formidable poisonous biting apparatus, which enables 

 them to inflict mortal wounds on their prey, and which places them in 

 the front rank of dangerous animals. 



The Squamata exhibit a low order of intelligence. Most of them 

 give few exhibitions of it, and it is then generally in connection with 

 obtaining food. They sometimes appear to recognize the person that 

 feeds them, and will overcome their timidity so for as to take food from, 

 the hand. I give an account, under the head of Liopeltis vernalis, of a 

 ruse adopted by this species for the purpose of taking prey; and under 

 Seterodon plafyrhinus, of actions apparently intended to inspire fear in 

 a venomous snake with which it was confined. 



3. CLASSIFICATION. 



The Squamata are known under three princijjal modifications or sub- 

 orders, as follows : 



Quadrate boue articulating with exoccipital ; parietal bones not closing the brain 

 case in front; generally an epipterygoid and sternum; teeth with dentinal roots; 

 phalanges with condyles Sauria. 



Quadrate bone articulating with paroccipital; parietal bones not closing brain case 

 in front; epipterygoid and sternum present; teeth with osseous roots; phalanges 

 truncate Pythonomorpha. 



Quadrate bone articulating with paroccipital; parietal and frontal bones closing 

 brain case in front; uo epipterygoid or sternum; teeth rootless; no phalanges 

 Ophidia. 



