Identifier: studyofanimallif00thomuoft (find matches)
Title: The study of animal life
Year: 1906 (1900s)
Authors: Thomson, J. Arthur (John Arthur), 1861-1933
Subjects: Zoology
Publisher: New York : C. Scribner's sons
Contributing Library: Gerstein - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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tropical Americanforests, and feed on leaves and frait; the sluggish and spinyHorned Toad (Phiynosoma); the Agamas of the Old Worldcomparable to the Iguanas of the New ; the Flying Dragon (Dracovolans), which, with skin outstretched on extended ribs, swoopsfrom tree to tree; the Australian frilled lizards (Chlatiiydosatirus)and the quaint thorny Moloch ; the single marine lizard (Oreo-cephalus or Antblyn-hynchtis cristatus) from the Galapagos ; and thedivergent Chamaeleons, flushing with changeful colour. The New Zealand Hatteria or Sphenodon is quite unique, andseems to be the sole survivor of an extinct order—Rhynchocephalia.It was in it first of all that the pineal body—an upgrowth from themid-brain of backboned animals—was seen to be a degenerateupward-looking eye. Snakes or Serpents (Ophidia). — These much modifiedreptiles mostly cleave to the earth, though there are among themclever climbers, swift swimmers, and powerful burrowers. Though CHAP. XVI Backboned Animals i6i
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^ o ^ o •<—» 3 utZ i&i The Study of Animal Life part iii they are all limbless, unless we credit the little hind daws of someboas and pythons with the title of legs, they flow like swift livingstreams along the ground, using ribs and scales instead of their lostappendages, pushing themselves forward with jerks so rapid thatthe movement seems continuous. Without something on which toraise themselves they must remain at least half prostrate, but in theforest or on rough ground there are no lither gymnasts. Theirunited eyelids give them an unlimited power of staring, and, accord-ing to uncritical observers, of fascination ; yet most of them seemto see dimly and hear faintly, trusting mainly for guidance to thetouch of their restless protrusible tongue and to their sense ofsmell. Their only language is a hiss or a whine. Most of themhave an annual period of torpor, and all periodically cast off theirscales in a normally continuous slougli, which they turn outside-inas they cra

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