Reptiles and birds. A popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting. (1873) (14726561456)

Identifier: reptilesbirdspo00figu (find matches)
Title: Reptiles and birds. A popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting.
Year: 1873 (1870s)
Authors: Figuier, Louis, 1819-1894 Gillmore, Parker
Subjects: Birds Reptiles
Publisher: New York : D. Appleton and Co.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library



Text Appearing Before Image:
measured asmuch as six feet in length. Although the average length of theCrocodile is about eight to nine feet, they have been seen twenty-four and even thirty feet long. In Chelonians the surface of the skull is continuous withoutmovable articulations. The head is oval in the Land Tortoises, theinterval between the eyes large and convex, the opening of thenostrils large, the orbits round. The general distinguishing character-istic of Tortoises is the external position of the bones of the thorax,at once enveloping with a cuirass or buckler the muscular portion ofthe frame, and protecting the pelvis and shoulder bones. The ribs * Birds, however, are ovipxrous, and nevertheless manifest the strongestparental affection.—Ed. CHARACTERISTICS OF REPTILES. 15 are inserted by means of sutures into these plates, and united witheach other. A three-branched shoulder and cylindrical shoulder-blade are characteristic of the Tortoises. In tropical regions enormous Serpents are found, which are as
Text Appearing After Image:
Fig. 3.—Skeleton of a Turtle. large in diameter as a mans thigh; and some are reported to havealmost reached forty feet in length. Roman annals mention oneforty feet long, which Regulus encountered in Africa during thePunic Wars, and which is fabulously said to have arrested the marchof his army. These gigantic Reptiles are not, however, enemies whichman has most cause to fear, for their very size draws attention to 16 REPTILES AND BIRDS. them, enabling them to be avoided. Not so with the more minutepoisonous Snakes, which gUde after their prey without attractingattention, strike it, and puncture the wound with venom, which pro-duces death with startUng rapidity. Doubtless this fatal power wasthe cause of barbarous nations of old worshipping certain Reptiles;even at the present time these animals are venerated by some bar-barous races of men. The whole class of Reptiles are for the mostpart calculated to inspire feelings of repugnance, and such has beenthe prevailing sentiment in al