34 CREATION OF ANIMALS. 



should have their station in the subterranean 

 waters, which would sufficiently account for their 

 never having been seen except in a fossil state. 



The organization of many reptiles favours the 

 idea of their being fitted for a subterranean 

 habitation. It has been observed of them, that 

 they not only perceive objects at a great distance, 

 but are furnished with a nictitant membrane 

 like birds; and that the greater part can con- 

 tract the pupil like cats, which enables them to 

 see in the dark. Their other organs furnish them 

 with but few sensations : they communicate less 

 frequently and less perfectly with external 

 objects ; their blood is cold, and will circulate a 

 long time without communication with the air. 

 They will bear very long fasts without injury; 

 and those of some tribes, the Chelonians at least, 

 will survive for a time the loss of their brain, 

 their heart, and even their head. These circum- 

 stances are found in those that only occasionally 

 seek subterranean retreats, or seclusion from the 

 light and the air ; but those whose existence is 

 wholly subterranean, doubtless, like the Proteus, 

 would be fitted by their organization for their 

 destined abode. We see, in several of those we 

 are acquainted with, except at certain times, a 

 constant effort to escape not only from obser- 

 vation, but from immediate contact with the 

 light and the air. 



This leads me further to observe, that there is 

 one instance of a Saurian, at this time known to be 



