MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 55 



fabulous monster of our own times, the celebrated 

 Sea-Serpent, whose existence, though repudiated by 

 all sufficiently learned to be sceptical, still forms 

 part of the creed of honest Jack-tars and other dwel- 

 lers on the mighty deep, and which is reported still 

 to pay an annual visit to the Scandinavian fisher- 

 men on the shores of Norway. 



The flesh of many reptiles is eaten by the inhabi- 

 tants of the countries in which they are found, and 

 that of the turtle forms a very important item in the 

 bill of fare of English epicures. In a really econo- 

 mical point of view they are not of much import- 

 ance, the principal product which they yield being 

 " Tortoise-shell/' so extensively employed in the arts 

 and manufactures. 



Though this class is now far from numerous, yet 

 at one period of the earth's history Reptiles formed 

 its principal inhabitants, and in size exceeded any- 

 thing of the kind now extant. Oar crocodiles 

 and boa-constrictors, the largest now in existence, 

 were far outvied by the Saurians, whose fossil re- 

 mains so abound in the lias and oolitic formations, 

 among which the Megalosaurus and Ichthyosaurus 

 may be noted for their almost colossal proportions ; 

 while the Plesiosaurus, with its elongated neck, is 

 no less remarkable for its singular fish-like contour. 

 Among the terrestrial species of that era were the 

 gigantic Iguanodon, and a strange, flying Lizard, 

 named the Pterodactylus, which, with expanded 

 wings, Bat-like, flitted through the air. 



All true Reptiles are air-breathing, and respire by 



