File:Animal and vegetable physiology, considered with reference to natural theology (1836) (14741761716).jpg

Identifier: animalvegetable01roge (find matches)
Title: Animal and vegetable physiology, considered with reference to natural theology
Year: 1836 (1830s)
Authors: Roget, Peter Mark, 1779-1869
Subjects: Biology Physiology Plant physiology Natural theology
Publisher: Philadelphia, Carey, Lea & Blanchard
Contributing Library: NCSU Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: NCSU Libraries

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ly, theapodous oranguilliformfishes, they greatly resemble by the length and flexibility ofthe spine. These peculiarities of conformation may be in agreat measure traced to the mode of life for w^hich they aredestined. The food assigned to them is living prey, whichthey must attack and vanquish before they can convert it intonourishment. The usual mode in which the boa seizes and de-stroys its victims is bycoilingthe hinder part ofits body roundthe trunk or branch of a tree, keeping the head and anteriorhalf of the body disengaged; and then, by a sudden spring,fasten upon the defenceless object of its attack, and twininground its body so as to compress its chest, and put a stop to they exist concealed under the skhi. In others, he has discovered cartilagi-nous filaments, which he conceives to correspond to these parts. (Annalesdes Sciences Naturelles, VII. 170.) Some of these are represented in thefollowing figures. Fig. 203 exhibits the claw of the Boa constrictory placed 203 205 206
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2or 209 at the termination of a series of bones, representing very imperfectly thebones of the lower extremities. Fig. 204 shows the muscles attached tothese small bones. The three following figures, 205, 206, and 207, repre-sent the claws and rudimental bones of the Tortrix scijtak, Tortrix coral-linus, ^Wil Anguis fragilis, respectively. Tliose of the Jmphisbaena alba, Fig.208, and the Coluber pullatus. Fig. 209, are still less developed. The Clial-cides, or snake lizard, which has four minute feet, is represented in Fig. 210. 312 THE MECHANICAL FUNCTIONS. its respiration. Venomous serpents, on the other hand, coilthemselves into the smallest possible space, and suddenlydarting upon the unsuspecting or fascinated straggler, inflictthe quickly fatal wound.* It is evident, from these considerations, that, in the ab-sence of all external instruments of prehension and of pro-gressive motion, it is necessary that the spine should berendered extremely flexible, so as to adapt itself to a

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