

THE MUSEUM 



N A T U R AL HIS T O R Y. 



ZOOLOGY. 



Class III.— REPTILES (Reptilia). 



The term Keptile is derived from the latin word repto, 

 to creep or crawl, and, in a general sense, sxifficiendy 

 well characterizes the class of animals to which it is 

 applied. An imcouth, elongated body, supported by 

 remarkably short legs, which scarcely elevate them 

 above the soil they creep upon; Uttle glancing, glitter- 

 ing 'eyes ; and a capacious mouth, the jaws often fur- 

 nished with most formidable teeth — render many of 

 them hideous and repulsive to the sight: whilst the total 

 absence of legs, their sinuous, tortuous body, gliding 

 along the surface of the ground, and the presence of 

 fangs endued with deadly poison, cause others to be 

 viewed with fear and horror. " Of all the animals," 

 says the Abbe Bonnaterre, " which Nature has scattered 

 over the surface of the globe, and which she appears to 

 have thrown across the great scene of her works, in 

 order to animate the vacant space and produce motion 

 in it, reptiles are those which have the fewest of her 

 gifts. Their body presents only an ill-formed mas.s, 

 heavy and inactive ; their senses are obtuse ; their 

 instinct is reduced to sensations the most coarse ; and 

 their hfe is confined to seeking their food upon the 

 limits of earth and water, in those vast marshes where 

 ever}-thing conjures up the images of monstrous growths 

 from the ancient slime. In fact, they have neither the 

 grace nor the Uveliness of other terrestrial animals; 

 they do not know, like these latter, how to amuse them- 

 selves, to enjoy each other's company, nor to take their 

 pleasant spoils either upon the earth or iu the air ; but 

 they glide on the ground, along the borders of lakes, in 

 the hollows of rocks, or under sterile thickets. Some 

 delight in the rays of the sun ; others remain iu gloomy, 

 moist, retired places during the day, and only quit them 

 at night so as to conceal their deformity, and to avoid 

 producmg in man the sentiment of fear, disgust, and 

 horror, which their presence inspires him with." This 

 apparently natural loathing and abhorrence seems even 

 to prevent the generality of naturalists from making 

 them their study, and deters scientific travellers from 

 collecting them. Reptiles, however, notwithstanding 

 this gloomy pietuie, are well worthy of attention. 

 There is, perhaps, no other class of animals in which 

 Vol. n. 



such a great diversity of form and external configura- 

 tion is to be found. The little harmless lizard; the 

 fierce, gigantic crocodile ; the gliding, hissing serpent ; 

 and the imwieldy, slow tortoise — though differing so 

 much in general appearance, all possess characters in 

 common, sufficient to enable them to be united in the 

 same class. Amongst them, too, are many which, for 

 beauty, do not vield to any species belonging to any 

 other class of the animal kingdom. For rich and varied 

 hues, and for graceful and lively action, few exceed the 

 green lizard of the south of Europe ; and what can be 

 more beautiful than some serpents, which are endowed 

 with the brightest colours, and clothed in scales flashing 

 in the hght with a thousand varied metalUc reflec- 

 tions — 



■■ Terribly beautiful. 

 Wreath 'd like a coronet of gold and jeweU, 

 Fit for a tyrani's brow?'* 



In an economical or utilitarian view, reptiles are not 

 of much value to man. The flesh of many, as the 

 guanas, is eaten by the inhabitants of the countries 

 where they are foimd, and is said to be both delicate 

 and well flavoured ; while that of the turtle, in many 

 instances, proves of great value to na\igators in length- 

 ened voyages, and its gastronomic repute, especially 

 amongst English epicures, is too well known to require 

 particular notice. The shell of these latter animals, 

 known as '' Tortoise-shell," is the most valuable pro- 

 duct derived from the class of reptiles, being extensively 

 used in the arts and manufactures. 



From the earliest ages the forms and habits of rep- 

 tiles have arrested the attention of mankind. Numerous 

 passages in the Old Testament show, that many of them 

 were well known at the time the Scriptures were 

 written, whilst the ancient monimients of Egj-pt prove 

 how much they had been noticed by that early race of 

 people. 



Though not the most ancient inhabitants of the globe 

 (Crustacea, Polyps, Mollusca, and some fishes, liaving 

 made their appearance before them), they yet precede 

 Birds and Mammalia ; and, to use the words of Boiy 

 St. Vincent, " were, perhaps, the attempt by which 



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