REPTILES AND BIRDS. [Illustration: HAWKING IN THE MIDDLE AGES. _Frontispiece._] REPTILES AND BIRDS. A POPULAR ACCOUNT OF THEIR VARIOUS ORDERS, WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE HABITS AND ECONOMY OF THE MOST INTERESTING. BY LOUIS FIGUIER, AUTHOR OF "THE WORLD BEFORE THE DELUGE," "THE VEGETABLE WORLD," "THE INSECT WORLD," ETC. ETC. ILLUSTRATED WITH 307 WOODCUTS. BY MM. A. MESNEL, A. DE NEUVILLE, AND E. RIOU. Edited and Adapted by PARKER GILLMORE ("UBIQUE"). NEW YORK: D. APPLETON AND CO. 1870. LONDON: PRINTED BY VIRTUE AND CO., CITY ROAD. PREFACE. In presenting to the public this English version of LOUIS FIGUIER'S interesting work on Reptiles and Birds, I beg to state that where alterations and additions have been made, my object has been that the style and matter should be suited to the present state of general knowledge, and that all classes should be able to obtain useful information and amusement from the pages which I have now the honour and pleasure of presenting to them. On commencing my undertaking I was not aware of the immensity of the labour to be done, and fear that I must have relinquished my arduous task but for the kind encouragement of FRANK BUCKLAND, Esq., Inspector of Salmon Fisheries, and HENRY LEE, Esq., F.L.S., F.G.S., &c., to both of whom I take this opportunity of returning my sincere thanks. PARKER GILLMORE ("UBIQUE"). _December, 1869._ CONTENTS. REPTILES. PAGE INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER I. AMPHIBIA, OR BATRACHIANS. Structural Distinctions 8 Intelligence 13 Characteristics 15 Historical Antiquity 18 Distribution 19 Frogs 19 Habits of Life 21 Development of Young 22 Green 23 Common 23 Green Tree 24 Toads 25 Natterjack 26 Surinam 28 Land Salamanders 31 Spotted 32 Black 33 Aquatic Salamanders 33 Crested 34 Gigantic 34 Transformations and Reproduction 35 CHAPTER II. OPHIDIAN REPTILES, OR TRUE SNAKES.