CHART III 



REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS 



These two classes are often confused in the popular mind. The term, 

 Reptile, has been applied indiscriminately to Crocodiles, Turtles, Snakes, 

 Lizards, Tuataras, Frogs, Toads, Salamanders, and Caecilians; whereas 

 it belongs correctly to only the first five groups, the others being classified 

 as Amphibians. There are important structural differences. The Reptiles 

 on their higher level are the ancestors of the Birds. Their lower forms 

 are closely related to the Amphibians, which, in turn, are intimately con- 

 nected with the Fishes. There are intermediate forms, also, which make 

 it difficult to distinguish boundaries sharply. A majority of the Amphibians 

 undergo metamorphoses, or changes, before reaching their final form. 



