B. SARCOSE REPTILIA—LARGE-EYED.
3546. These animals have tubercles, spines and plates, with four perfect feet, as in the higher Lizards, but the toes are of pretty equal length; there are no palatal teeth, and the tongue is not fissured. They are of varied size, lead a sluggish and mostly nocturnal mode of life, and have a slow pace, occurring too only in warm climates.
Order 4. Sarcose Reptiles.
3547. Feet abnormal, being fin-and wing-shaped, adapted for climbing or clinging. They correspond quite closely to the three next animal classes.
Fam. 10. Ichthyoid Reptilia, Herring-like—Ichthyosauri.
All four feet converted into fins.
Here belong clearly the monstrous extinct animals, which formerly lived in the sea. They had gomphotic teeth almost like the Crocodile.—Ichthyosaurus, Plesiosaurus.
Fam. 11. Typical Reptiles, Salmon-like—Geckos.
Climbing feet, or retractile claws as in the Cats, and perpendicular laminæ or plates under the soles, by means of which they cling to walls. They usually dwell in houses and catch beetles—Chamæleo, Gecko.
Fam. 12. Ornithoid Reptilia, Pike-like—Dragons.