British Reptiles : Snakes — Two Turtles 



closed. In the act of poisoning, the fangs are erected, 

 and, entering the flesh of the victim, act as a sort of 

 hypodermic syringe. The pressure upon a fang causes 

 it to press upon a gland in which the deadly poison is 

 stored, and the latter is forced along a canal in the fang 

 into the wound ; thus the poison is injected directly 

 into the blood. 



The harmless Snakes described in this chapter make 

 excellent pets, and I know more than one enthusiast 

 who keep adders in captivity. The Ringed Snake is 

 usually a great favourite with vivarium keepers, as it is 

 easily tamed and readily accommodates itself to confine- 

 ment. At first it may emit the peculiarly offensive 

 odour to which reference has been made, but it ceases 

 to do this when it has become used to its quarters and 

 its captors. Being an excellent swimmer it revels in 

 water, and should always be provided with a tank in 

 which to bathe, the water being changed daily. A 

 small shrub grown in the vivarium will provide the 

 snake with climbing exercise ; and it welcomes a box of 

 material, such as broken bark, or moss, within which to 

 hide. Perhaps the best kind of vivarium for these 

 Snakes is a roomy four-sided glass case with a lid con- 

 sisting mainly of perforated zinc. 



Two Turtles. 



There are two Turtles that are occasionally claimed 

 as British, although, properly speaking, their appearance 



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