2 7 6 



REPTILES. 



cylindrical. Their skin is smooth, and transversely furrowed by annular 

 wrinkles. At first sight it appears to be completetly naked ; but on dissection 

 small and extremely thin scales are found. The eyes, which are very small, 

 are concealed beneath the skin, and sometimes are entirely wanting. These 

 reptiles inhabit humid and shady places, make holes in the ground, and seem 

 to feed on vegetable substances as well as on worms and small insects ; they 

 are found in South America and in the East Indies. Gills are said to have 

 been discovered in a young specimen, but no trace of them is to be seen in 

 the adult. 



AMPHIBIA WITHOUT GILLS. 



ABRANCHIAL 



A few creatures found in the Southern United States consti- 

 tute this limited group. They are exceedingly like eels the 



FIG. 296. TWO-TOED A.MPHILT.IA. 



body being greatly lengthened, smooth, and flexible ; and though 

 they have four limbs, these are so minute, so rudimentary, and 

 placed so far apart, as scarcely to affect this eel-like contour. 

 The toes on their feet are scarcely more than little pimples. 



* a, a -without; 



branchia, gills. 



