RANK OF THE BATRACHIANS. 163 



that class of animals. The opinion, however, is now very gene- 

 rally entertained that they ought properly to be regarded as con- 

 stituting by themselves a distinct class, equal in relative import- 

 ance to each of the other great classes of the animal world, and 

 occupying an intermediate position between the true reptiles and 

 the inferior class of fishes. If this view of the matter be allowed, 

 our little friend the Frog and his allies will part company with 

 their quondam associates of the reptile tribes, the snakes, the 

 lizards, and the tortoises, and, raised to a higher level, will take 

 their place on terms of equality with the other great divisions 

 of the vertebrate animals. The Batrachians themselves are no 

 doubt sublimely indifferent as to which way the decision may go 

 on this very grave question, and would be but little elated, it 

 may be presumed, should their elevation to the dignity of an in- 

 dependent class be ultimately agreed to by a unanimous vote of 

 all the zoological professors of Christendom. But, for all that, 

 the question is not without its interest to the student of nature ; 

 and as the Batrachians do really stand as candidates for this ele- 

 vated post, they ought certainly to be regarded with becoming 

 deference and respect. 



But, whatever may be the true style and title of the Batra- 

 chians whether they continue to be regarded as a subordinate 

 group of the reptile class, or be raised to a class by themselves 

 one thing is quite certain, namely, that they do differ very ma- 

 terially from ordinary reptiles, and approximate in many parti- 

 culars to the class of fishes. The group, as a whole, forms a 

 clear and unmistakable transition from the one class to the other. 

 In the lower divisions of it we meet with creatures so completely 

 fish-like in character, that they can be separated from the fishes 

 only by fixing on some point of distinction which is purely arbi- 

 trary in its nature ; and from these questionable forms we ad- 

 vance, step by step, to the higher divisions, the members of which 

 make a close approach to the character of true reptiles. It is 

 obvious therefore that the Batrachians form a strictly interme- 

 diate and transitionary group ; and so completely do they bridge 

 over the difference between the fishes adapted for a purely aquatic 

 life and the true air-breathing land reptiles, that they obliterate* 

 so to speak, all essential distinction between them. 



If there be any one thing which more than another shows 

 the true character of the Batrachians, it is the remarkable changes 



