11EPTILES. 
285 
not, however, hatched by the parent, but deposited in situations 
favourable to their developement. In some genera the young 
are produced perfect, while in others they are of a widely differ¬ 
ent form, being shaped like, and having the habits of a fish, and, 
like insects, undergo a transformation, before arriving at per¬ 
fection. A familiar example of this may be seen in tadpoles, 
which are the young of frogs. 
The classification of Reptiles adopted by Cuvier, is that of 
Brongniart, who derived his orders from the varieties of con¬ 
struction in the chief organs, such as those of generation and 
respiration, taken in conjunction with the animal functions. 
They are divided into four orders, namely:— 
I. Chelonians, or Tortoises. — Body covered with a shield 
or plate. 
II. Saurians, or Lizards.—Body covered with scales. 
III. Ophidians, or Serpents.—Destitute of feet. 
IV. Batrachians, or Frogs—Body covered with a naked 
and loose skin. 
ORDER I.—CHELONIA. 
Heart having two auricles; body enveloped in two plates or 
shields, formed of the ribs or sternum ; and with four feet. 
Division I.—Inhabits the land. 
Genus 1.—TESTUDO.— Brongniart. 
Generic Character .—Superior shell gibbous, sustained by a 
bony frame, and adhering through the greater portion of its 
sides to the under shell ; feet with short toes, attached together 
to nearly the nails, which, together with the head, can be with¬ 
drawn within the shell; anterior feet with live nails, posterior 
feet with four nails, the whole of them conoid and thick. 
Testudo geometrica .— Geometrical Tortoise. 
Plate LXIX. fig. 1. 
Shell black, ovate; scutellae ornamented with yellow radioe, 
