MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 55 



fabulous monster of our own times, the celebrated 

 Sea-Serpent, whose existence, though repudiated by 

 all sufficiently learned to be sceptical, still forms 

 part of the creed of honest Jack-tars and other dwel- 

 lers on the mighty deep, and which is reported still 

 to pay an annual visit to the Scandinavian fisher- 

 men on the shores of Norway. 



The flesh of many reptiles is eaten by the inhabi- 

 tants of the countries in which they are found, and 

 that of the turtle forms a very important item in the 

 bill of fare of English epicures. In a really econo- 

 mical point of view they are not of much import- 

 ance, the principal product which they yield being 

 " Tortoise-shell/' so extensively employed in the arts 

 and manufactures. 



Though this . class is now far from numerous, yet 

 at one period of the earth's history Reptiles formed 

 its principal inhabitants, and in size exceeded any- 

 thing of the kind now extant. Our crocodiles 

 and boa-constrictors, the largest now in existence, 

 were far outvied by the Saurians, whose fossil re- 

 mains so abound in the lias and oolitic formations, 

 among which the Megalosaurus and Ichthyosaurus 

 may be noted for their almost colossal proportions ; 

 while the Plesiosaurus, with its elongated neck, is 

 no less remarkable for its singular fish-like contour. 

 Among the terrestrial species of that era were the 

 gigantic Iguanodon, and a strange, flying Lizard, 

 named the Pterodactylus, which, with expanded 

 wings, Bat-like, flitted through the air. 



All true Reptiles are air-breathing, and respire by 



