The Cecil Whig., 1867-09-14
Some Facts Concerning Reptiles

Of old, when the water that covered the
earth had subsidized, there were, according
to tradition and the limited discoveries OF
geologists, left standing amid the ooze and
mud certain monsters or reptiles which were
hdeous and repusive in form. These are
said to have been chelomans or those be-
longing TO the tortoise family; SaWians, or
lizards, and ophidiaaS, or serpents. Rep
tiles do not undergo any change of nature
and are always air breathers, although cold
b coded they have neither mammae nor
b casts for suckling their young, nor yet
hair or feathers. By the two former pecu-
liarlies they can be distinguished from fish,
es and bratrachians, and by the two latter
from manuals or those which do not suckle
their young, and from birds. Reptiles
breathe air by lungs, like birds and mann
mails, but the pulmonary circulation is in
complete only part Of the blood being
sent 10 the lungs while from the ventricle
of the heart q mixed arterial and venous
blood is sent to the other organs. The num-
Der of species Of reptiles is set down at 2,
GOO or less than that Of mammals or birds
most Of them are terrestrial but some, it is
said. can sustain themselves in the air.
Some reptiles live habitually in the water,
swimming by means of tlattencd fins (as the
turtes) or by thin tail, as in crocodiles
others dwell in snbterranean burrows.
Every degree of speed is found among
reptiles. and while some are fitted for run
ming over dry sand, others are better adap-
ted to climbing trees or ascending smooth
enrtaccs The means of defense with which
nature has provided reptiles are many, and
although their appearance is sufficient to
terrty most animals, yet they are furnished
with other safeguards, which render IN AT.
tack upon them TO say the least, unpleas
ant The crocodile and turtle are suili.
cirutly protected against ordinary assaults
the ao,tity OF the lizard serves him we'll, for
h. darts into his hole nj the expense, posi-
biy, Of his tail, which is soon reproduced -
The great bUaa can prevail over every foe
bat man, and the poisonous fangS of other
scrpcnts, and the bristing apincs of the
horned lizard are amply sufficient to guard
them trun the attacks of predaceous and
other i'll disposed members of the animal
EH"l0m Reptiles are very useful to man
ii various ways; some fulfil the law of THEN
being by catching insects, while still Others
serve n tnol or supply material useful in
the arts. The muscles oi reptiles are red
thou"h palcr than mammals and birds; they
preserve their irratabiiity for long time
after DEATH 1orloaes have been known tc
llrr ci"htcrn ,hays after their brains have
been removed. lile seems in n marked
decree independent of the brain, as the,
Yrg"tair rather than live; and being com
,arrtigriy tnScnsihle TO PAIN, they grow
slowly. live long, and are very tenacious o
life The sense of touch is dull, whethe
exercised by the skin, toes, lip, tongue o.
tail taste must also be dull, MS the food O
reptiles is swallowed without masticniion
Reptiles eat and drink comparatively littl,
and are able TO go n long time without food
most of them are oviparous, their eggs be
ing hatched by the heat of the sun. Th
young when born are able to provide 70
themselves, and are generally Indifferent Il
the mother, who has neither the joys no
the sorrows of maternity. Scientific 1me,