t '' W jf’ Ji

I '00 ]

r-. r r

v7\> '.v.' ver

T HE

O F

A N I

A.

. ;\r . f.• ? ' ;

H I S TORY

- " p a r t 'ii. : ! ^

Of the Animals difiinguijhed by the title of Amphibious!

, . . ; ■ f, I

T \HE lungs of these creatures are so formed, that, though respiration is neces-sary to them, yet it is not requifite to be performed at short intervals j'*>'■ whence they can remain along ’while under water without suffocation, and manyof them spend a very considerable part of their time there .... 1

- 'The Amphibious animals may conveniently be arranged under two series j the first com-prehending those which have no legs, the others those which have. :

BOOK 1.

Of SERE EN T S.

Amphibious animals which have no legs.

C Æ C I L I A.

T H E body of the Cæcilia is naked, but there are a number of rugæ or wrinklesat the sides: the upper lip is prominent beyond the rest of the mouth, and hastwo tentacula; there is no tail.

This genus, in a manner, connects the Insect and Amphibious tribe; many cha-racters of the generality of Serpents being wanting in this, and much of the structureof the softer insects appearing in it.

Cæcilia rugis centum et triginta quinque.

The Cæcilia^ with a hundred and thirty-five rugæ.

This is a very singular and extraordinary animal; it never grows to any very greatsize: it’s colour is a dusky brown, somewhat paler on the belly than on the back, andit’s thickness not great in proportion to it’s length; the back is smooth, and has afleshy appearance; the belly is still softer, but at the sides there are frequent wrinkles,which form a number of undulated lines or furrows, making a kind of indentings: thehead is somewhat flat, and approaches to an oval form; the extremity is pointed andthin, being formed only of the prominence of the upper jaw; there art? two short andslender tentacula on it.