Till-. GUIDE TO XATURE 



passed by two circular aquaria and 

 entered the one that was best supplied 

 with aquatic plants. lie devoured 

 every plant in that <<nv aquarium on 

 the first night. < )n succeeding nights, 

 he visited three other aquaria in suc- 

 cession and from each he took all the 

 plants. 



I nailed the wire more firmly in 

 place and he again forced it off, for 

 a snapping turtle has powerful neck 

 and legs. From his method of climb- 

 ing the netting by forcing his "toe 

 nails" into the wire, we called him "Old 

 Lineman" because he reminded us of 

 a lineman climbing telegraph poles by 

 aid of spurs on his feet. After he had 

 torn off the wire for the third time, 

 I substituted a strong board for the 



netting and now "Old Lineman" is 

 forced to stay in the tank. We have 

 subdued his astonishing propensity to 

 travel at night, but we have not learned 

 how he knew what was on that shelf 

 above him nor how he planned his 

 circuitous and difficult method of get- 

 ting there. "Old Lineman" has a 

 knowing look. When I am busy about 

 the greenhouse, I often see him lying 

 in the tank and looking at me. It 

 would not require much imagination 

 to observe a twinkle in his eyes, as 

 if he were thinking, "I'll outwit you 

 yet." He has done it twice and it is 

 not too fanciful to believe that he will 

 do it again if he may. He evidently 

 has long, long thoughts. 



THE COMMON SUNFISH (EUPOMOTIS GIBBOSTS). 



(Slightly reduced.) 



Photographed from life by Dr. R. W. Shufeldt. 



