484 SAURIANS. 



Mention the species found in this Hemisphere. Also the other species and 

 their localities. How is the gen. Gavialis at once distinguished? What 

 is said of the Gavial of the Ganges? What is the remark of Dr. Buckland? 

 What is said of Fossil Crocodiles? From what is the name Enaliosauria 

 derived ? Upon what is this group of marine Fossil Lizards founded ? What 

 two genera does it include? What does Prof. Owen say of the Ichthyosau- 

 rus? What does Dr. Buckland say respecting it? What further is said 

 of it? How many species have been enumerated? Who first described 

 the gen. Plesiosaurus? What is its most remarkable character? What was 

 the conjecture of Conybeare? What else is said of this gen.? How many 

 species have been enumerated? What is said of the Pterodactyle ? 

 What of the Iguauodon? Of the Chameleon? Illustrate this order from 

 the Chart, tracing the gen. and families as there given. 



SECTION IV. 

 SECOND FAMILY. CHAMELEONS. 



Chamaleonida, (Gr. #a,wattaW, chamaileon, a Chameleon, 

 Chameleon-kind.) 



These are a group of singular reptiles, not immediately rela- 

 ted to any other family, but perhaps succeeding the Crocodiles 

 as fitly as it would any other reptiles. It contains but a single 

 genus, Chamcekon; the first peculiarity whereof consists in the 

 absence of scales, instead of which, the surface of the skin is 

 covered with horny granulations of unequal size, but of sym- 

 metrical distribution; (2) the body is of a deep, compressed 

 form, surmounted on the back by a sharp ridge; (3) the Parrot- 

 like structure of the feet, (Plate XII. fig. 6,) longer in proportion 

 than those of any other Saurian, having each five toes, divided 

 into two opposing sets, one including two, and the other three, 

 armed with five sharp claws, and connected together as far as 

 the claws by the skin. 



The internal organ of hearing is entirely hidden; the head is 

 very large, and seems to be set upon the shoulders; the upper 

 part usually showing an elevated crest or casque; and a ridged 

 arch is over each of the large orbits to the muzzle. The mouth 

 is very wide ; the teeth are sharp, small, and three lobed. The 

 eyes, though in themselves small, appear extremely minute ; the 

 whole of the ball, except the pupil, being covered with skin, 

 forming a single circular eye-lid with a central dilatable aperture, 

 The furrow between the ball of the eye and the edge of the 

 orbit is very deep; and the eye-lid closely attached to the ball, 

 moves with it. Each eye has the power of motion independent 

 of its fellow ! so that we may see the axis of one directed up- 



