4 OUR REPTILES. 



alternative than to separate the two distinct groups 

 of organisms here treated of, into two independent 

 classes, the Eeptilia, which include the tortoises, 

 snakes, and lizards ; and the Amphibia, or Batrach- 

 ians, to which belong the toads, frogs, and newts. 

 It is hardly necessary to state that Reptilia is 

 derived from the Latin word repto, "I crawl," in 

 allusion to the crawling habit of many of its mem- 

 bers ; and that Amphibia is of Greek origin, and 

 indicates ,the two-folcl manner of life, at first aquatic, 

 and afterwards terrestrial, of the various species. It 

 has been pointed out by Professor Huxley that the 

 Eeptilia are more nearly allied to the Birds, and the 

 Amphibia to Fishes. 



Out of respect to the "red-tape" of science, we 

 must attempt a definition of these two classes, as 

 now recognized, and practically adopted by Jenyns, 

 in 1835. 



Reptilia. — Oviparous animals, breathing by lungs ; 

 body covered with scales or shelly plates; impreg- 

 nation by sexual union ; the young undergoing no 

 metamorphosis. 



Amphibia, or Batrachians. — Oviparous animals, 

 breathing first by gills, and then by lungs ; body 

 covered with a soft naked skin ; feet without claws ; 

 eggs impregnated after exclusion ; the young under- 

 going metamorphosis. 



There are also anatomical differences, which need 



