PREFACE. 



The exhibition of mounted specimens of Reptiles offers greater 

 difficulties than that of the other classes of Vertebrate animals. 

 Only the larger and hard-skinned forms, like Crocodiles and 

 Tortoises, can be preserved in a dried state without distortion of 

 their natural features; whilst every attempt at reproducing the 

 finely moulded body of a Lizard or Snake, or at restoring the 

 exquisite arrangement of their scales, has ended in failure. Neither 

 has plastic art of ancient or modern times succeeded in producing 

 a faithful or life-like representation of a Reptile. 



Crocodiles and Tortoises are, therefore, represented in this 

 Gallery by a comparatively much larger number of specimens than 

 the two other orders, which comprise many more species. But 

 in the present Guide, which has for one of its objects to give a 

 general account of these animals, a more uniform treatment of 

 the subject has been adopted. In its preparation I have been 

 assisted by Mr. G. A. Boulenger, the assistant in charge of 

 these Collections. 



ALBERT GUNTHER. 



Keeper of the Department of Zoology. 



British Museum, N. II., 

 19 March, 1885. 



