A POT-HUNTER'S DEFIANCE 79 



''This doesn't sound much like the desperate 

 outlaw and gunman you've described to me, 

 Thompson, ' ' remarked the stranger. 



"It's new hearin' that there's something decent 

 about Bull Adam," was the sullen retort. 



Which the figure following heard. 



Shan, once started on the question of birds' 

 eggs, rattled on, soon finding out that his new 

 friend knew a great deal about the subject. 



'T used to think," the boy said, "that only birds 

 laid eggs, but I've seen eggs of turtles and alliga- 

 tors, and eggs of fishes and flies. I reckon every- 

 thing lays eggs, excepting animals, doesn't it?" 



"There are two kinds of mammals which lay 

 eggs, besides," the stranger answered, "the spiny 

 ant-eater or echidna and the duck-billed platypus. 

 The platypus even makes a nest and sits on its 

 eggs. Most reptiles lay eggs, you 've seen the eggs 

 of turtles and alligators yourself, but a few of the 

 lizards and some of the snakes give birth to live 

 young, just like animals." 



"All fishes lay eggs, don't they?" asked the boy. 



"Several form of sharks have babies," was the 

 reply, ' ' and many little bright colored tropical fish, 

 such as people keep in aquaria, are viviparous. 

 As a rule, though, fish lay eggs and some have very 



