ORGANIZATIONOFREPTILES. 39 



information as to the nature and qualities of the food; hence these organs are 

 placed near the mouth, as the feelers in crustaceous animals, and the barbels or 

 tentacula in many Fish. 



In Reptiles, the snout of the Frog is said to be used as an organ of touch; and 

 it is possible that the long slender bifid tongue of Serpents may be employed in 

 examining the nature of external objects, for we observe them constantly protruding 

 it when moving cautiously from place to place; but we cannot suppose with 

 Blumenbach and Roget,* that they have an accurate sense of touch, from their 

 being able to entwine themselves round objects; for the thick scales with which 

 their bodies are covered, prevent them enjoying this sense in a higher degree than 

 other Reptiles. In no animal of this class do we ever find, as in the Mammalia, 

 an organ developed hke the extremities for grasping and holding bodies, and a 

 peculiar arrangement of parts for determining their character. 



* Roget, An. and Veg. Phys., vol. ii. p. 290. 



