268 GENERAL ZOOLOGY 



diversity in habits and some species resembled mammals 

 in structure. There were carnivorous dinosaurs which 

 looked much like great lizards or kangaroos; and herbivor- 

 ous species like rhinoceri and buffaloes. The reptiles of 

 past ages occupied the places now taken by birds and 

 mammals and had many of their adaptations. 



But the great abundance of 'reptile life which once domi- 

 nated the earth has now gone forever. Only a few strag- 

 glers remain from those which at one stage in the earth's 

 evolution were the best animals that had been produced. 

 Nature has since brought forth better living mechanisms. 

 But the reptiles did not live in vain, for evolutionists tell 

 us that some of the extinct forms doubtless gave rise to 

 the birds and mammals. 



