REPTILES: CROCODILES, ALLK^ATOltS, TL'K'I LKs, 

 TERRAPTXS. TOUrOTSES. LIZARDS. SXAKFS 



However, the Reptilia take up u \eiy central i»t»siti<»ii in the evolution 

 ot the main classes of the Vertebrata. (-)n the one hand, there is n«»t the 

 slightest doubt that they are evolved from some branch of the St<*frocephali, 

 whilst on the other han<l tlic rei)tiles, ])r(ibably through s<»me l)ranch of 

 the Theromorpha, have uiveu rise to the mammals; some other reptilian 

 branch, at present unknown, lias blossomed out into the birds. — Hash 

 Gadow. " Cambridge Natural History." Yn]. VI T I. pp. 277-278 



111 the absence <jt' birtis, what, then, holds the ilevastatinu hosts of 

 insects in check, for insects abound in all warm countries where vegeta- 

 tion is luxuriant? This, in my opinion, is the lizard lirigade, — tlios** 

 spry and cheerful little fellows in brown "homespun." of which La- 

 certa muralia is the commonest kind, which are seen streaking it over walls 

 and along the ground, in town and country everywhere. — F. H. Hkk- 

 uiCK, "Italian Bird Life as it impresses an American To-day.'" liinl Lon. 

 Vol. VTTT. p. 10(5 



Why lUciy not a uood .siiiikr merit tlie .same iirolcction 

 as a o()0(I l)ir(l ? The reason is that we liavt- not taken thr 

 pains to know the good from the liiid, and oiir |»rt'iiidi(M> 

 and fear, tlut (;hil(h-en of ignorance, have (himinaird ihr lifkL 

 As venomons snakes have been almost exterminate* I troni 

 iidial)ited parts of ihe eountrv, we are eomin<;- to Im- alile tn 

 appreeiate the beauty and aeknowk'dLr(. the iXoo<l there may 

 be even in a snake. In general a reptile is a good citizen 

 if it does good work in tlu^ world, if il feeds upon injurious 

 inseets or U[)on rats and mice or other harndnl animals, and 

 if it is not venomous. In addition to tliis larger aspect, a 

 number of reptiles supply vahndile products — alligat«>r and 



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