HANDS AND FINS 
in the series in possessing hands and feet, with fingers 
and toes not exceeding five in number. In no fish, that 
is or that was, is there the faintest trace of this penta- 
dactyle limb. the fins areof a totally different nature, 
and there is nothing that is in the least degree inter- 
mediate between what has been termed the “ icthyop- 
terygium ” or fish’s fin and the “ cheiropterygium ”’ or 
hand of the higher types. In this particular a verte- 
brate animal is either a fish or itis nota fish. Further- 
more, though some amphibians, the common English 
newt for example, may appear to be like a fish in pos- 
sessing fins along the back and so forth, there is this 
important difference between the amphibian and the 
fish fin, that the latter are supported by horny gristly 
or bony rays which do not exist in the amphibian 
fin. 
The existing amphibia may be readily divided into 
three groups. Of these practically only two concern us 
here, so that the third group may be summarily dealt 
with. That group is the Apoda, and it consists of worm- 
like amphibians which bear not a little resemblance 
to the amphisbenians among the lizards, and to the 
typhlopide among snakes, in that they burrow under- 
ground and live upon worms and such like small game. 
They are not suited for a life in menagerie, and have 
never been on view at the Zoo. The two remaining 
groups are known technically as the Urodela and the 
Anura, and more popularly as frogs and newts—the 
tailless frogs being on that very account termed Anura. 
The Urodela are always well represented at the Zoo, 
and we later draw attention to a number of different 
types. We are here concerned merely with certain. 
generalities about the group. The most remarkable 
fact about them perhaps is the tendency which 
so many of them have to retain throughout life certain 
of the characters of the larva. But as this matter is 
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