ANALOGIES OF THE TORTOISES. 119 



with the true lizards. The analogy, therefore, of these 

 to the Emydosaures, is most striking and beautiful. 

 Following these, we have the Trionicidce, as not only 

 representing tortoises, but more especially the class 

 Amphibia, by the naked and soft external covering 

 of their bodies, one of the most striking characteristics 

 of that class. Lastly, come the Chelonidce, or sea- 

 turtles, having the fin-like feet of the Enalosaures.^ No 

 analogies can be stronger than these, and by exhibiting 

 them in a tabular view, we shall bring them all, at one 

 glance, before the eye. 



Analogies of the Families of tortoises to the Orders of 



REPTILES. 



Orders of 

 Families. Reptiles. 



rThe most dissimilar and typical^ 

 TestudinidcE. ■< of their respective circles; feet >Ophides. 



C imperfect, or none. J 



CkeMH^. [T»^J™f farpitS.""'"^] E„Y„o,„HES. 



r Peculiarly orbicular, and leasts 

 Trionicidce. < developed of their respective >-Chelonides. 



C circles. j 



„. , . , f Scaly fins or paddles instead of 7 c / 



Chelonida. \ fe/tj mariAe. j Enalosaures. 



"We have said, that if a tortoise was to be likened to 

 any other reptile, in the common acceptation of the 

 word, it resembles nothing so much as a frog or toad 

 encased in the natural armour of its own shield. This 

 remark applies to the whole group generally, but more 

 particularly so to the TrionicidcB, or soft tortoises. These, 

 instead of having the outer surface of their bodies 

 covered by hard and naked plates, are enveloped in a 

 soft granular skin, the shell beneath being so slight as 

 to be flexible, and often merely coriaceous or leathery. 

 Secure, therefore, in this analogy, we may compare the 

 two groups on a larger scale. 



i4i 



