THE MUSEUM 
OF 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
ZOOLOGY. 
Class III. — REPTILES (Reptilia). 
The term Keptile is derived from the latin word repto, 
to creep or crawl, and, in a general sense, sufficiently 
well characterizes the class of animals to which it is 
applied. An uncouth, elongated body, supported by 
remarkably short legs, which scarcely elevate them 
above the soil they creep upon; little glancing, glitter- 
ing eyes; and a capacious mouth, the jaws often fur- 
nished with most formidable teeth — -render many of 
them hideous and repulsive to the sight : whilst the total 
absence of legs, their sinuous, tortuous body, gliding 
along the surface of the ground, and the presence of 
fangs endued with deadly poison, cause others to be 
viewed with fear and horror. “ Of all the animals,” 
says the Abbd Bonnaterre, “ which Nature has scattered 
over the surface of the globe, and which she appears to 
have thrown across the great scene of her works, in 
order to animate the vacant space and produce motion 
in it, reptiles are those which have the fewest of her 
gifts. Their body presents only an ill-formed mass, 
heavy and inactive; their senses are obtuse; their 
instinct is reduced to sensations the most coarse ; and 
their life is confined to seeking their food upon the 
limits of earth and water, in those vast marshes where 
everything conjures up the images of monstrous growths 
from the ancient slime. In fact, they have neither the 
grace nor the liveliness of other terrestrial animals; 
they do not know, like these latter, how to amuse them- 
selves, to enjoy each other’s company, nor to take their 
pleasant sports either upon the earth or in the air ; but 
they" glide on the ground, along the borders of lakes, in 
the hollows of rocks, or under sterile thickets. Some 
delight in the rays of. the sun ; others remain in gloomy, 
moist, retired places during the day, and only quit them 
at night so as to conceal their deformity, and to avoid 
producing in man the sentiment of fear, disgust, and 
horror, which their presence inspires him with.” This 
apparently natural loathing and abhorrence seems even 
to prevent the generality of naturalists from making 
them their study, and deters scientific travellers from 
collecting them. Reptiles, however, notwithstanding 
this gloomy picture, are well worthy of attention. 
There is, perhaps, no other class of animals in which 
VoL. II. 57 
such a great diversity of form and external configura- 
tion is to be found. The little harmless lizard; the 
fierce, gigantic crocodile ; the gliding, hissing serpent ; 
and the unwieldy, slow tortoise — though differing so 
much in general appearance, all possess characters in 
common, sufficient to enable them to be united in the 
same class. Amongst them, too, are many which, for 
beauty, do not yield to any species belonging to any 
other class of the animal kingdom. For rich and varied 
hues, and for graceful and lively action, few exceed the 
green lizard of the south of Europe ; and what can be 
more beautiful than some serpents, which are endowed 
with the brightest colours, and clothed in scales flashing 
in the light with a thousand varied metallic reflec- 
tions — 
“ Terribly beautiful, 
Wreath’d like a coronet of gold and jewels. 
Fit for a tyrant’s brow?” 
In an economical or utilitarian view, reptiles are not 
of much value to man. The flesh of many, as the 
guanas, is eaten by the inhabitants of the countries 
where they are found, and is said to be both delicate 
and well flavoured ; while that of the turtle, in many 
instances, proves of great value to navigators in length- 
ened voyages, and its gastronomic repute, especially 
amongst English epicures, is too well known to inquire 
particular notice. The shell of these latter animals, 
known as “ Tortoise-shell,” is the most valuable pro- 
duct derived from the class of reptiles, being extensively 
used in the arts and manufactures. 
From the earliest ages the forms and habits of rep- 
tiles have arrested the attention of mankind. Numerous 
passages in the Old Testament show, that many of them 
were well known at the time the Scriptures were 
written, whilst the ancient monuments of Egj^pt prove 
how much they had been noticed by that earlj" race of 
people. 
Though not the most ancient inhabitants of the globe 
(Crustacea, Polyps, Mollusca, and some fishes, having 
made their appearance before them), they yet precede 
Birds and Mammalia ; and, to use the words of Bory 
St. Vincent, “ were, perhaps, the attempt by which 
