268 Barnes on Batractun Animals and doubtful Reptiis. 
Art. IX.—An arrangement of the genera of Batracian 
Animals, with a description of the more remarkable spe- 
cies; including a Monograph of the Doubtful Reptils. 
. By PAE Sais A. M., Hecarding —— of 
New-York Lyceum 
(Read before the Lyceum, July, ‘eons 
£ distribution of the class Amphibia, or Reptils, into 
- four —_— affords a fair example of the exact method of 
modern science. A tortoise, a lizard, a snake, and a frog, 
are objects familiar to all; and these animals being assumed 
as the types of the orders, give a natural clue to guide usin 
our investigations. It is in this department that the chief la- 
bor remains to be done, in order to illustrate the natural pro- 
ductions of the Western Continent. Our reptils are nume- 
rous, and some of them are peculiarly interesting. e 
have, i in our waters and marshes, peau all of that singular 
family, which haye been supposed to. possess a double set of 
respiratory organs. Most of these have lately been iiiiact: 
ed to the strlotest scrutiny ; and to bring together the scat- 
tered rays of light, and give a clear view of the subject, is 
the principal design of this paper. It was. written for the 
purpose of fixing the author’s own views of an obscure and 
ate. = t, and i it is published with the = that it may 
be benelblse others. © A quaicges even of the synonyms can- 
unacceptable ;. for, if — ted it will fa- 
pos the labor of future i inquirers. 
REPTILS. 
Orper 1.—Cnreroxsan, 
Characters. Four ey a tail and shell. 
Examples. Tortoises and Turtles. 
os OrvER 2.—SAurIAN. 
Charecters. Four Feo a tail and scales. 
Examples. Lizards and Crocodiles. 
Orver 3.—Opnipian. 
Characters. No —— tail and scales. 
Examples. Se 
oe One 4.—BaTRActIAn, 
Characters. Pl a but no scales or shell. 
Examples. _ Frogs and Salamanders. 
