PREFACE 



In the great procession of zoological events, we find elab- 

 orate representations of all the branches of animate creation 

 but that of reptiles. Occasionally, a technical work passes 

 before the eager student, but its phraseology and complication 

 fail to attract and it finds its way only to the library of the great 

 institutions where it remains as a reference for a scientific few. 

 The shelves of our libraries groan with masses of literature upon 

 mammals, birds, fishes, insects and the lower forms of life — 

 literature of a kind that may be comprehended by the Great 

 Majority, but the gap — in the scale of classification between 

 the birds and the fishes — has steadily remained unchanged. 

 The descriptions of reptiles in the works of general natural his- 

 tory, excellent though they may be, are mere bird's-eye views- 

 of a great subject. The works of the technical writers, voluminous 

 enough, are imperatively necessary in the records of Science, 

 but pure science is so far over the head of the average student, 

 that without proper steps to reach it — popularised books — he 

 would never know the reason for which it was created. But 

 one condition can bring about more general knowledge and in- 

 terest in the great Class of Reptiles and that is the special treat- 

 ment of structure and habits in a manner sympathetic to the 

 needs of the Many, who crave to learn. 



In the present work the writer has sought to compile a 

 popular review of a great fauna — the Reptiles of North America. 

 He has excluded technical phraseology and tried to produce 

 two results: i. A popular book, that may be comprehended 

 by the beginner and 2 — A book valuable in its details to the 

 technical worker. Though some scientists scoff at all lan- 

 guage except that which is obscure to everybody but them- 

 selves, 1 feel sure that to even that Few, this book will be of 

 interest, for the illustrations alone tell the story. 



My friend the Camera: Through the several years of prep- 

 aration of this book, my most useful ally has been a camera. 



