WHAT AMPHIBIAN MEANS 



of the birds which liave invaded the air. With them 

 came in the three-jointed hmb and the fingers and 

 tlie toes. Tlie many fringes of the fins of the fishes 



Fig. 3. 



Slender c?ecilia 

 {Cxcilia gracilis). 



White-bellied cfeeilia 

 {Cxcilia lentaculata). 



rapidly decreased to five digits in this next class, and 

 then the human hand lay in its cradle among the 

 rushes — a giant which should rise and sti-ike and 

 strangle. 



With the jointed limb and toe came in the lung, 

 also, in its best development — permitting the excur- 

 sion away from the water. 



There are now living three orders of amphibians, 

 easily distinguished from each other. First there are 

 the tailed forms, like the salamanders, always having 

 a tail and at least two limbs. Second there are the 



