REPTILIA. 261 
The third and last order of the naked Reptilia or Batrachia is to be 
found in the Peromeles, embracing but one family, the Ceciliad@. Until 
within a comparatively recent period the species of this family were 
included among the Ophidia, on account of their serpentiform body. This, 
however, while cylindrical, and entirely destitute of limbs, yet has the 
scales so minute as to be almost entirely concealed in the folds of the skin. 
The anus is situated at the extremity of the body, and presents a rounded, 
plicated orifice, instead of a transverse slit. The most striking batrachian 
characters, however, are to be found in the double occipital condyle, and 
the existence of branchiez in the young. The principal difference between 
the Ceeciliade and the other batrachians is to be found in the entire 
absence of limbs and the presence of true ribs. 
Of the eight known species, distributed in four genera, five are natives 
of America, two of Asia, and one of Africa. The most conspicuous 
characters of the genera are to be found in the position of the pits or false 
nostrils, which in Cecilia are below the true nostrils, in Siphonops one at 
least before each eye, in Epicrium below the eyes on the lips, and in 
Rhinatrema are entirely wanting. The third of these genera is peculiar 
to Asia, the others are all represented by South American species. One 
species of Siphonops, S. mexicanus, is a native of Mexico. 
Having thus finished the consideration of the living batrachian fauna, it 
becomes necessary to devote a small space to that of the fossil species. 
We have already referred to the genus Orthophya, as being probably one 
of the Proteide, and to Andrias, as occupying a station intermediate 
between the living Menopoma and Megalobatrachus. Three species of 
true Salamandrine are described as occurring in Central Europe, and 
referred to the ambiguous genus Triton. Among the oldest indications of 
air-breathing vertebrates are to be found certain tracks or foot-marks, 
from the coal measures of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. These 
decidedly salamandrine vestiges indicate an animal far exceeding in size 
any of its allies of the present day. Somewhat similar foot-prints have 
been found in various quarries of Central Europe, and ascribed to a hypo- 
thetical Cheirotherium. It is supposed, by some geologists, that they were 
made by a Labyrinthodont. Traces, also, of probably batrachian foot- 
marks are to be found in the new red sandstone of Connecticut and Massa- 
chusetts. A few of the anourous batrachia have been found fossil in 
France and Germany, some of them referred to the modern genus Rana. 
Sus-cuass 2. ReEpriniA SQUAMATA. 
We have already referred to the principal features of this sub-class in 
treating of Reptilia in general. It only remains for us briefly to state in 
what it differs from the Reptilia nuda, and then proceed to an illustration 
of the various orders and their subdivisions. This difference consists 
mainly in the dry horny or bony covering, as distinguished from the moist, 
naked skin of the Batrachia. Instead of a condyle on each side of the 
ICONOGRAPHIC ENCYCLOPADIA.—VOL, II. 30 465 
