Li;'.AnDS.- 



-REPTII.ES.- 



-T.I/A1M)S. 



Order 1. — i'OKTuiSEd [Chtlouiu), Irom the Greek word 

 chelone (x^^*'*'i)) a tortoise. 

 Body short, depressed ; the bones of the thorax ex- 

 lernal, surrounding: the muscles of the body like a case, 

 out uf wliich the head, limbs, and tail are protruded; 

 jaws tootliless, covered with a horny coat (like a bill) ; 

 the upper bill covers the lower like a box. 



This order contains tlie Land Tortoises, the Terrapeits 

 or Hirer Tortoises, the Soft Tortoises, and the Turtles, 

 &c. 



Order 2. — Ckocooiles and Alligators (Emydosaun), 



from the Greek words emi/s, emydos (^f^v;, iu.uho;)^ 



a lizard, and sanros (e-at/oo;), a lizard. 



Body spindle-shaped, covered with square bony plates 



placed in longitudinal lines. Head large ; jaws with 



teetli. Limbs four, free, short; tail compressed. 



'ibis order is composed of the Crocodiles and Alli- 

 gators. 



Order 3.— Amphisbjt;nians {Atuphishicnia), (rom t!ie Greek 

 words amphis i^f^'f't), both ways ; and baino ir^ctivu), 

 to walk. 

 Body elongate, cylindrical, covered with square im- 

 bedded plates placed in cross rows. Tail short, con- 

 tinuous, blunt. Limbs none, or very short, and placed 

 anteriorly, weak ; jaws w-ith teeth. 



This order contains the Amjilushcenas or Double- 

 walkers, the Trigonophes, the Cfdrotes, or Two-handed 

 worm, Ac. 



Such is a general sketch of the arrangement we 

 propose to adopt of the Class Reptiles. 



Order I.— LIZARDS (Sauria). 



Thk first oriltT, that of tiie Saurians or Lizards, is 

 what may be tenaud the tyiiical order of tlie class. 

 Tlie sjiecies ii.eluded in it, have more afiliiily with the 

 Mammaha, liotli in the variety and rapidity of their 

 movements, than any others; for we find amongst 

 them, animals which creep, walk, run, climb, swim, 

 dive, and even, to a certain extent, fly. Not but wliat 

 the essential external charactei's of the class to which 

 ihey belong are snfficiently apparent and well stamped. 

 For though examples do occur in their lanks of crea- 

 tures tl)at are capable of executing a great variety of 

 movements, yet the elongated and proportionately 

 bulky body of tlie greater number, supported upon 

 their short limbs with apparent dilliculty, constrains 

 them to walk slowly and with an air of embarrassment, 

 v«ry diffci-ent from the light gait of the generality of 

 mammiferous quadrupeds. Tlieir arms and thighs are 

 short, slender, but slightly muscular, and jointed so as 

 to have a direction outwardly, while the elbows and 

 knees are too angular, and tlie legs too far asunder 

 from each other, to support with ease, when in a state 

 of repose, the superincumbent weight of their body. 

 They vary very much in habits and manner of living, 

 and their organs of motion are always in harmony with 

 these, and the particular situations for which they are 

 designed. Some have slender and highly-developed 

 toes, with a long, conical, and pointed tail, like the true 

 Lizards. These are evidently fitted for an exclusively 

 terrestrial mode of life, and a residence in sandy plains 

 or stony deserts. Others have their toes expanded on 

 their under surface, short thick feet and tail, and a 

 broad flattened form of l>ody, like the Geckos. These 

 creatures are clearly thus constructed to enable them 

 to adhere to smooth surfaces, to traverse walls or ceil- 

 ings like a fly, and to remain fixed there for any length 

 of time. 



In a third set we see membranous expansions on 

 each side of the body, supported by elongated ribs, and 

 capable of being spread out like a fun, as in the Dragons. 

 Tliese are evidently formed for balancing themselves 

 in the air, as if by means of a parachute, and darting, 

 by long flying leaps, from one branch or tree to another. 



In aiuither group still we find animals endowed with, 

 comparatively spi.-aking, long and slender feet, the toes 



jjlaced in opposite directions, like pincers, and a pre- 

 hensile tail, as the Chameleons. These animals, it 

 may at once be seen, are well adapted for climbing 

 trees and perching upon the branches like birds. 



Finally, several genera occur, the species of which 

 have a serjjent-like form, and aie either almost deprived 

 of feet or have tliem excee<lingly short, as the Blind 

 Worm, the Glass Snake, &c. These animals, we may 

 therefore at once conclude, are destined to live in 

 ground covered with herbage, and glide along like the 

 snakes to which they bear such a striking general 

 resemblance. The Saurian reptiles, in general, ha\e 

 the body of a lengthened form, in proportion to the 

 size of the other parts of their frame. This arises from 

 the great number of separate bones, or verUbne, of whicli 

 their spine is composed ; these amounting sometimes, 

 in species with long tails, as tlie Iguanas, &c., to the 

 number of one hundred and forty separate pieces, and 

 e\'en in those with very short tails, to upwards of forty. 

 With the exception of a few abnormal forms, they ha\ e 

 four short legs, and their foes are armed with claws. 

 Their skin is covered with scales of various sizes and 

 figures, or with granulations. They shed their skin several 

 times in the course of the year. This takes place espe- 

 cially in the spring, after which they appear in brighter 

 colours — the male particularly so. The brain is only 

 moderately developed in the Saurian reptiles, as is also 

 tJie case with the various organs of sense, except that 

 of sight. They are tenacious of life, and even when 

 tlieir head is cut oS", they do not die immediately. If 

 the tail or feet are amputated, they are not fatally 

 injured in consequence, but on the contrary the lust 

 parts are after a short time reproduced. As the skin 

 and feet are covered with hard scales, it follows that 

 the sense of touch must be very imperfect ; and as 

 they live exclusively upon living animals, which they 

 seize the moment they see them, it may be easily con- 

 ceived that the organ of smell is but slightly developed, 

 that sense not being much required. The sense ot 

 taste is in like manner very slightly developed ; for, as 

 they do not masticate their food, and have very little 

 saliva, a keen perception of tlie flavour of the articles 

 of which their diet consists, is not required. They all, 

 however, have a tongue, which is in general pretty 



