ioo Boston Society of Natural History 



tive manner, but with the newer methods of preparation, it is hoped 

 that this group can soon be made as interesting to the public as 

 the birds or mammals. 



The study collection, which is increasing in size each year, now 

 contains approximately six hundred specimens, all from New Eng- 

 land. There are about three hundred specimens of reptiles and three 

 hundred amphibians. The collection is now of sufficient size to be of 

 distinct value to any student of New England herpetology. Perhaps 

 our most famous specimen from an historic and literary standpoint 

 is a shell of a Blandings Tortoise, captured in the Concord River and 

 presented to the Society by Henry David Thoreau. Other forms of 

 especial interest are the great Leatherback Sea Turtle, the largest 

 species of turtle now living, specimens of which are occasionally 

 captured off our coast; the Banded Rattlesnake and Copperhead, 

 the only two venomous snakes found in New England; the rare 

 Spade-foot Toad, and a Muhlenberg's Turtle from Rhode Island, 

 collected by Alexander Agassiz. 



We have one habitat group on exhibition. It shows the Snap- 

 ping Turtle, our largest fresh-water turtle, illustrating the method 

 of laying its eggs. 



As the interest of the public lies in these habitat groups and 

 specimens for exhibition rather than in the study collections, our 

 present necessity lies in the enlarging of this exhibition collection. 

 In the course of time we hope to have a series of groups illustrat- 

 ing the development and growth of various reptiles andamphibians, 

 their structure, their environment, and their habits. 



