220 



FISHES. 



part of the winter in a dormant state. They are arranged 

 in four orders. The Tortoises {Chclo'nia) liave a covering 

 consisting of an upper and under shell, joined at their sides 

 into one, which permits only their head and other extremi- 

 ties to be extended without it. They have no teeth but 

 their jaws are armed with a tough horny substance which 

 supplies their place. The order of Lizards {Sau'ria) in- 

 cludes a very considerable variety. The greater part of 

 them have four feet, but a iew are possessed of only two. 

 They have nails and teeth, and their skin is covered with 

 scales. Among them are the crocodile, the alligator, the 

 chameleon, the true lizards and the dragons. The crocodile 

 is the most celebrated. It is from twenty to thirty feet in 

 length including the tail, and is covered with a coat of 

 scales, which on the back form an armour proof against a 

 bullet, and have an appearance like that of carved work. 

 The Serpents {Ophid'ia) are distinguished by their long 

 and slender bodies without limbs, and by the great extensi- 

 bility of their jaws, mouth and throat. They are divided 

 into the venomous and those that are not venomous. The 

 number of the latter is the greatest and includes the largest 

 animals. The venomous serpents are generally armed with 

 fangs for the specific purpose of infusing^ poison into the 

 wounds they inflict. When the tooth pierces the flesh of 

 any animal, the poisonous fluid is injected into the opening. 

 When broken or injured, these fangs are renewed, and 

 when not employed, are hidden from the sight by a fold or 

 projection of the gum. Serpents cast their skins annually, 

 and the beauty and lustre of their colours are then highly 

 augmented. The reptiles of the fourth order (Batrach'ia, 

 frog, salamander, &c.) are principally remarkable for a 

 transformation which takes place in their offspring after 

 leaving the egg. When first hatched, they are strictly an 

 aquatic animal, and capable of breathing and living only 

 under water. In this state they are seen by thousands, of a 

 dark colour, with round bodies, swimming about in brooks 

 and small ponds. After a certain period, their form and 

 structure are altered, and they become at once animals 

 capable of breathing only in air. 



Fishes being destined to inhabit only the water, are pro- 

 vided with organs and a structure adapted to the element in 

 which they reside. Since they cannot breathe pure air, they 



