134 . CLASSIFICATION' OP AMPHIBIANS. 



classes, so tliat^ however anomalous the structure of the 

 Pterodactyli may appear at first sights we see that in 

 their general structure they in nowise deriate from 

 those primary laws which respectively characterise all 

 natural groups of living animals. 



(133.) Having now enlarged more than usual upon 

 the aberrant group of the class Reptilia, we shall only 

 add a few words upon the union of the crocodiles, 

 the turtles^ and the swimming lizards. This union, 

 notwithstanding the obvious extinction of many of the 

 forms^ is placed beyond all doubtj when we refer to 

 the numerous opinions expressed by writers that the 

 Ichthyosaures were but marine crocodiles ; when we 

 observe the frequent reference made by Cuvier to the 

 analogous points of resemblance between the two; and 

 when we see, even in some of the modern systems, 

 that these two orders are actually united, we can have 

 no doubt of their being really so in nature, although 

 each forms a distinct division of its own. We shall 

 now proceed to a more rapid survey of the two typical 

 orders of reptiles, viz. the Serpents and the Lizards. 



CHAP. X. 



OK THE OPHIDES, OR SERPENTS. 



(134.) The true serpents form a natural and obvious 

 order, typical in every way of the great class of reptiles; 

 in this assertion we are supported by the authority of 

 M. Cuvier, who observes that the ophidians, " of all 

 reptiles, are those which best merit this name." The 

 form with which nature has invested those elegant but 

 proverbially insidious creatures, could the mind be di- 

 vested of their hurtful qualities, would be viewed as 

 highly graceful j clothed, as it is, with innumerable 



