HOW ANIMALS BREATHE. 



117 



Like the alimentary canal, the lungs of an animal are 

 really an inflected portion of the outer surface; so that 

 breathing by the skin and breathing by lungs are one in 

 principle. Indeed, in many animals, especially Frogs, res- 

 piration is carried on by both lungs and skin. 



The lungs of Vertebrates are derived from the front 

 part of the alimentary canal. In some Fishes, air is swal- 

 lowed, which passes the whole length of the digestive 

 tract, and is expelled from the anus. Here 

 the whole canal serves for respiration. In 

 Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals the hinder 

 part of the intestine develops an outgrowth 

 (the allantois) during embryo -life which 

 serves as the embryo's breathing organ (Figs. 

 170, 171). 



All Vertebrates have two kinds of respir- 

 atory organs in the course of their life. 

 Fishes have gills; their lung (the air-blad- 

 der) rarely serves as a functional respiratory 

 organ, and is sometimes wanting. Amphibi- 

 ans have gills while in the larval state. Some 

 keep them throughout life ; but all develop 

 functional lungs, and also breathe by means 

 of the skin. 



In the remaining Vertebrates, the allantois 

 is the breathing organ of the embryo, and 

 the lung is the breathing organ of the ad nit. 

 The skin is of small or no importance in 

 respiration. 



The lungs of Vertebrates are elastic mem- 



. . FIG. 84 



branous sacs, divided more or less into cavities 

 (the air-cells) to increase the surface. Upon 

 the walls of the air-cells are spread the capil- 

 larv blood-vessels. The smaller the cells, the nai r vein; the 



lung, B, is rudi- 



greater the extent ot surrace upon which the mentary. 



Lungs 



of a Snake: a, 

 bifurcation 6 - "! 



