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BIOGRAPHY;

OR,

AN ECDOTES

OF THE

LIVES, MANNERS, AND ECONOMY,

OF THE

ANIMAL CREATION,

ARRANGED ACCORDING TO THE SYSTEM OF LINNÆUS.

BY THE REV. W. BINGLEY, A. B.

FELLOW OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY,

AND LATE OF ST. PETER'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. III.

AMPHIBIOUS ANIMALS,

FISHES, INSECTS,

WORMS.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR R. PHILLIPS, No. 71, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD, AND SOLD BY T. HURST, PATERNOSTER-ROW; E. BALFOUR, EDINBURGH; AND J. ARCHER, DUBLIN.

1803.

Wilks and Taylor, Printers, Chancery-lane.

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AMPHIBIOUS ANIMALS.

THE title of Amphibia is given by Linnæus to the Reptile and Serpent tribes; or to such animals as have cold blood, and live occasionally both on land and in water. It is true that this may be considered exceptionable on account of some individuals being confined to only one of those situations: these are, however, so very few as not, with any propriety, to affect their general denomination.

Their abode is usually in retired, watery and shady places, where they are, most probably, stationed to prevent the excessive multiplication of water animals and insects; and themselves, in many instances, to serve as food for fishes and birds.

They are able, from the peculiar structure of their organs, to suspend respiration at pleasure; and thus to support the change of element uninjured. They have also the power of enduring a degree of abstinence so great as infallibly to prove fatal to any other order of animals.

It is generally asserted and believed, that the

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hearts of the Amphibia are furnished with only one ventricle: more accurate physiologists are however. of opinion, that we ought rather to say that they have two ventricles with an immediate communication between them.

The lungs consist, for the most part, of a pair of large bladders or membranaceous receptacles, parted into cancelli or small subdivisions, among which are beautifully distributed their few pulmonary bloodvessels.

Many of the animals possess a high degree of reproductive power, and when their feet, tail, &c. are by any accident destroyed, others will grow in their place. Their bodies are sometimes defended by a hard, horny shield or covering; and sometimes by a coriaceous integument. Some species have scales, and others soft pustular warts or protuberances. Their bones are more cartilaginous than those either of quadrupeds or birds. Several of the species are destitute of ribs. Some are furnished with formidable teeth, while others are entirely without: some again are fierce and predacious; and others perfectly inoffensive. None of them chew their food, but all swallow it whole, and digest it very slowly.

Few, except among the Serpent tribe, are of a poisonous nature, and even of these species not more than one sixth possess this dreadful quality.

They are in general extremely tenacious of life, and many will continue to move and exert animal functions, even destitute of their head."

Their colours are often livid and disgusting;

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