4 THE VIVARIUM. 
Reptiles and Batrachians has given rise to many extraordinary 
mistakes concerning them. For example, that Snakes sting by 
means of their harmless tongues—called in Devonshire “ spears ”’ 
—that they have the power of fascinating their prey, and that 
they will, as a rule, go out of their way to attack man, that 
the Salamander can live in fire, and that the Toad (Bufo vulgaris) 
has the power of inflicting deadly wounds. In England the 
harmless Slow-worm (Anguis fragilis) is often considered far more 
deadly than the Viper (Pelias berus). These and other delusions 
will be spoken of when the various animals are described. A 
writer in Science Gossip says truly that “ there is more romance 
amongst us and less sound knowledge with regard to Reptiles 
than other of the objects of natural history.” 
Forinerly, Batrachians, such as Frogs, Toads, and Newts, were 
spoken of as Reptiles, but now they are placed in a separate class. 
The Vertebrata, or those animals which possess a backbone, 
are divided into five classes : . 
1. Mammalia, or Men and Beasts. 
. Aves, or Birds. 
Reptilia, or Tortoises, Lizards, ete. 
. Batrachia, or Frogs, Toads, Newts, ete. 
. Pisces, or Fishes. 
Birds and Reptiles have been also grouped under the common 
title of Sawrops:da (from sauros, a lizard, and opsis, appearance) ; 
while the Batrachians and Fishes are placed under that of 
Ichthyopsida (from ichthys, a fish, and opsis, appearance). Thus 
it is seen that Reptiles are considered to be allied to Birds, and 
the Batrachians to Fishes. 
Reptiles themselves, according to Dr. Giinther and other great 
authorities, are at present divided into the following ten Orders, 
of which five are now extinct :— 
1. Ichthyopterygia (ichtys, a fish; pteryx, pterygos, wing—or fin- 
like).—Extinct Sea Reptiles, with a whale-like naked body, 
having four paddle-like limbs and a long tail. 
2. Anomodontia (anomos, lawless ; odous, odontos, a tooth). —Extinet 
Lizard-like Reptiles, some being toothless, others possessing 
“Jong ever-growing tusks and other smaller teeth.” 
3. Dinosauria (deinos, terrible; sawros, a lizard).—Extinct huge 
Lizards, of terrible appearance. Some of them more than 
moO bO 
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