268 THE HARMONIES OF NATURE. 



CHAPTER XXV. 



REPTILES. 



Defences of the Chelonians, Lizards, Frogs, and Toads Locomotion of Serpents 

 Legs of the Tortoise and Turtles The Gecko's Foot The Chameleon The 

 Viper's Fang How Serpents swallow their Food Tongue of the Chameleon and 

 of the Crocodile Vertebral Teeth of the Deirodon Maternal Affection of the 

 Cayman Hybernation Usefulness of Reptiles Their Enemies and their 

 Fecundity. 



UNSOCIAL, indolent, obtuse, the friends of darkness and solitude, 

 as if ashamed of exposing their hideousness to the broad light of 

 day, the Reptiles seem to be fit objects both of abhorrence and 

 pity ; and yet their structure is as perfect and harmonious in 

 its way as that of the most highly-gifted among the birds and 

 quadrupeds, and all their wants have been as carefully provided 

 for. 



Who, on seeing a tortoise slowly creeping along, would not 

 suppose that so slothful an animal must, necessarily, succumb 

 to the attacks of enemies infinitely its superiors in swiftness, 

 in cunning, or in strength ? And yet it has, in most cases, but 

 little to fear from their violence or speed, for its spine, ribs, and 

 breastbone are wonderfully developed and soldered together, 

 so as to enclose the whole animal in a solid panoply of bone. 

 This harness, as trustworthy as any in which the knights of old 

 encased their limbs when about to plunge into the tumult of 

 battle, is covered by the skin, which in its turn is plated with 

 large scales, while all the muscles and viscera are contained 

 in the inner cavity. Only the head, feet, and tail protrude 

 through openings between the dorsal shield or carapace and the 

 ventral cuirass or plastrum, but can at the creature's will be 

 withdrawn entirely under the former. Thus, at the approach of 

 danger, the tortoise need only shrink under the cover of its im- 



