LECTURE VII. 7 



improper one, though liable to some criticisms. I 

 should observe that Linnaeus, from a mistaken 

 idea, relative to the structure of their gills, which 

 he conceived to be accompanied by a kind of 

 lungs, admitted into the Amphibia several of the 

 Fish tribe, as the Lampreys, the Rays, the Sharks 

 and many others, which the more accurate re- 

 searches of later naturalists have restored to their 

 proper situation. The particular reasons for the 

 Linnsean arrangement of them will be explained 

 when we arrive at that tribe of animals : at pre- 

 sent we shall confine ourselves to the genuine 

 Amphibia. 



Of these the first genus or Tortoise, (Testudo,) 

 is characterized by having the body defended by a 

 strong bony or horny covering: the mouth without 

 teeth, the upper jaw closing over the edges of the 

 lower. Tortoises are divided into the land and 

 sea-Tortoises, which latter are termed Turtles, 

 and have the.feet so formed as to bear a sort of 

 resemblance to fins : there are also river or fresh- 

 water Tortoises. All the land Tortoises have the 

 feet divided into toes and furnished with claws; 

 and the river or fresh-water Tortoises have their 

 feet more or less webbed. Of the land Tortoises 



