24 
NATURAL HISTORY. £uPPER FLOOR. 
in the West Indies; the Frilled Lizard ( Chlamydosaurus )„ 
from New Holland, which has a large ruff on each side of 
its neck, just before the shoulders ; the Sea Snakes, with 
flat lanceolate tails, and several specimens of the Cobra 
Capella, one of the most venomous of the serpent tribe. 
Over this Case is a large Indian Tortoise. 
The Table Cases in the centre of the Room contain a 
series of specimens of stuffed Snakes and Lizards. 
TENTH ROOM. 
The Upright Cases round the room contain the collec¬ 
tion of Reptiles in spirits. 
Reptiles are known from the rest of the vertebrated 
animals by being covered with scales, respiring by means of 
lungs, and having an imperfect circulation and cold blood, 
which causes them to be cold to the touch. They increase 
by eggs, but sometimes the eggs are hatched in the bodies 
of the mother, and the young, when they are first born, 
are like their parents. They are divided into the Scaly 
and the Shielded Reptiles, according to the structure of the 
scales, and the formation of their skull. 
I. The Scaly Reptiles (Squamata) have their bodies co¬ 
vered with overlapping scales, the skull formed of separate 
bones, and the ear bones are external, and only arti¬ 
culated to the rest; their vent is a cross slit, and the ge¬ 
nerative organs are bifid. They consist of the Saurian 
Reptiles or Lizards, and Ophidian Reptiles or Snakes. 
The SaurianReptiles ( Sauria) are generally provided 
with four limbs, but in some the limbs are in such a rudi¬ 
mentary state, as to be hidden under the skin. The jaw 
bones are united together in front, for as these animals 
live on insects, fruits, &c., which they reduce by chewing, 
they are not required to dilate their mouths for the swallow¬ 
ing of large masses, as is the case in the snakes. 
The family of Monitors {Monitoridce , Case 3,) have a 
long deeply forked tongue, which, like that of the snakes, 
is capable of being withdrawn into a sheath placed at its 
base, and the head, body and limbs are covered with small 
scales. They are only found in the warmer parts of the 
Old World, living near the water’s edge, and are venerated 
by the natives, who assert that they give notice of the ap¬ 
proach of the Crocodiles, by hissing when they perceive one 
