Reptiles and Amphibians: their Habits and Adaptations

Abstract

THIS if one of the few books dealing with a neglected branch of natural history, and, though it aims chiefly at interesting a wider public in these much misunderstood animals and is consequently rather of the ‘semi-popular’ type, it will form a welcome addition to the library of the more serious student. As its author candidly admits, the book lacks continuity, but gives a very readable, though necessarily incomplete, account of the principal morphological, physiological, and habitudinal modifications which the recent reptiles and amphibians have undergone. The whole work is profusely illustrated and, though errors are not entirely absent, the text is essentially sound; one can only therefore regret the occurance of such a sentence as this:—“and marvellous developments have been attained, though by infinitely slow degress, to enable these fascinating creatures [snakes] the better to fit into the environmental niche pointed out to each plastic form by the inevitable finger of evolution.” It would be interesting to know whether Dr. Barbour really believes that the evolutionary changes an animal has undergone determine the environment it occupies. There is no index.

Reptiles and Amphibians: their Habits and Adaptations.

Thomas

Barbour

By. Pp. xx + 125 + 52 plates. (London George G. Harrap and Co, Ltd., n. d., 10s 6d. net.