BATRACHIANS. 63 



LESSON IV. 



ORDER OF BATRACHIA. Organization. Classification. 

 FAMILY OF ANOURA. Metamorphosis oj Tadpoles. Habits. 



frays. Tree-Froys. Toads. Pipa. 

 FAMILY OF URODELA. Salamanders, or Water-Newts. 

 FAMILY OF BRANCHIFERA. AxolotL Menobranc/ius. Proteus. 



Streu. 

 FAMILY OF APODA. Ccecilia. 



ORDER OF BATRACHIANS. 



1. The name Batrachian, (from the Greek, Batrachos, frog,) 

 is given to all reptiles that resemble frogs in their mode of 'organi- 

 zation. This fourth and last division of the Class of Reptiles, 

 brings us into the neighbourhood of the fishes ; for it is composed 

 of animals that, during the early period of their life, respire by 

 branchias, and resemble fishes in their habits and form, as well as 

 in their mode of organization, but which, with the advance of age, 

 undergo a true metamorphosis, and acquire characters common 

 to other reptiles. When in this transitory state, they are called 

 Tadpoles. 



2. The branchiae of young Batrachians are placed upon the 

 sides of the neck, and are sustained by the lateral prolongations 

 of a cartilage which represents the hyoides. Sometimes they 

 are in the form of external feathery tufts, which float in the 

 water ; at others, they consist of filaments fixed along the hyoid 

 branches just mentioned, and covered by the integuments. In 

 proportion as the lungs become developed, in general, the bran- 

 chiae wither, and at last entirely disappear ; but this is not always 

 the case, and, in some reptiles, they remain throughout life, con- 

 jointly with the lungs. 



1. What kind of animals form the order of Batrachians? What are Tadpoles? 



2. What is the situation of the Branchiae in young Batrachians ? What 

 is their form ? Do they always exist throughout the life of the animal ? 



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