A synopsis of the genera of reptiles and Amphibia, with a description ...

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the penetrating eye of Linnaeus, who observes that the Lacerta Chalcides, is " Media inter Lacertas et Angues;" and the union of the genera Sincus, Anguis, and Amphisbena, into an order, although it has not been done by any zoologist that I am aware of, appears to be strictly natural, for the feet in this order exist in such various degrees of developement, that the being with or without them appears to be only a family or generic character, and not ordinal. Linnaeus placed the genera Tortrix and Eryx of the true serpents as species of his [Begin Page: Page 195] 1835.] Mr, Gray on the Genera of Reptiles i \%^ genus Anguis, thus showing that he considered them as nearly allied. So far the passage from one order to the other has been very easy and gradual ; and indeed sometimes I have been doubtful, as in the last case, to which order I should refer the genera. There is every reason to believe from general structure, that there exists an affinity between the tortoises and the snakes, but the genus that exactly unites them is at pre- sent unknown to European naturalists, which is not astonishing when we consider the immense number of undescribed animals which are daily occurring. Mr. Macleay thought these tw^o orders might be united by means of Emi/s Longicollis (the long-necked tortoise) of
Shaw ; but the family to which this animal belongs appears to be the one which unites this class to the crocodile : if I may be al- lowed to speculate from the pecuharities of structure which I have observed, I am inclined to think that the union will most proba- bly take place, by some newly discovered genera, allied to the marine or fluviatile soft-skinned turtles, and the marine serpejit. § 1. Body covered with imbedded hard plates ; legs distinct, fit fox walking, Loricata, Gray; not Merrem, ,,_. Order I. Emydosauri, Blainv. - f" Ears closed by two longitudinal valves ; anus longitudinal ^ body covered with large imbedded plates ; tongue short adnate ; legs four ; toes four before, five behind ; sternum long ; clavi- cles none ; lungs not extended to the abdomen j living in or near water. Fam, I. Crocodilid^. • Feet three clawed; hinder ones ; palmate or semi palmate r tail compressed. k 1. Ali GATOR, Cuv. ^ Head blunt; hind feet semi-palmate. America, -^ A. lucius, Gray. Crocodilus lucius, C2^v. i
Page 1 and 2: http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Page 28 and 29: The following text is generated fro
Page 30 and 31: still remain unpublished. ^ '•' '
Page 34 and 35: 2. Crocodilus, Cuv, Champse, Merrem
Page 36 and 37: legs four, toes 5, before and behin
Page 38 and 39: 4. VnEVSTEs, Merrem, Agama, JDawc?.
Page 40 and 41: 198 Mr, Gray on the Genera ofR£ptU
Page 42 and 43: tetradatylus, Merrem, 3. Ptyodactyl
Page 44 and 45: 9. Phelsuma, 7iob. Tail round scaly
Page 46 and 47: Fam,\y, Lacertinid^. Tongue deeply
Page 48 and 49: one ; ossa quadratam one on each si
Page 50 and 51: 202 Mr. Gfay on the Genera of Repti
Page 52 and 53: distmct; eyes large ; drum of the e
Page 54 and 55: Eyes visible under the skin. Dr. Wa
Page 56 and 57: Order IV, Ophidii, Brogniart, Serpe
Page 58 and 59: 4. AcANTHOPis, Daud, Ophyas, Merrem
Page 60 and 61: P. Berus, Merrem, Coluber Berus, Li
Page 62 and 63: 1. AiPYsuRus, Lflcep. Head shielded
Page 64 and 65: Fam, V. CoLUBRiD^. Jaws furnished w
Page 66 and 67: hexangular, larger than those of th
Page 68 and 69: Head with nine plates ; scale of th
Page 70 and 71: . T, Scytale, (jrray. Anguis Scytal
Page 72 and 73: Body covered with horny shields ; c
Page 74 and 75: the anterior lobe moveable, separat
Page 76 and 77: Fam.y, Cheloniad^. Body covered wit
Page 78 and 79: 5. Chalcidse. The last family agree
Page 80 and 81: [Begin Page: Page 214] 214 Mr. Gray
Page 82 and 83:
PiPRA, Laur. Body ovate, depressed
Page 84 and 85:
to be a true lizard. Latreille form
Page 86 and 87:
Le tetradactyle, Lacepede, Ann. Mas
Page 88 and 89:
, 2. Amp II I UM A, Garden. Chrysod
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A synopsis of the genera of reptiles and Amphibia, with a description ...

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