PREFACE. 



The life histories of our reptiles remain almost entirely 

 unknown. Herpetologists are so few, and reptiles so re- 

 tiring, that, unless more general interest can be aroused, 

 we may hope for very little light upon this important 

 branch of the science. Many specialists in other de- 

 partments of science, as well as hunters, farmers, stu- 

 dents, and other intelligent men, however, are constantly 

 in the field and might record observations of great in- 

 terest were means of identification at hand. This 

 paper has been prepared in the hope that it may 

 stimulate those whose mode of life leads them into 

 the woods and fields to study the ways of our reptiles — 

 by no means the least interesting, if amongst the more 

 humble, of the animals about us. 



Although it has not been thought advisable to " popu- 

 larize" the descriptions in the following pages, such 

 characters as cannot be determined without dissection 

 have been avoided. For this reason the synopses and 

 characterizations of the higher groups are very artificial 

 and are not intended to hold good if applied to extra- 

 limital species or genera. Likewise, superfamilies, sub- 

 families, and subgenera have not been introduced. 

 While this is, thus, intended as a handbook for the 

 more or less casual student, it is hoped that the profes- 

 sional herpetologist will find something of interest re- 

 garding the variation and distribution of our reptiles. 



I wish especially to express my obligation to Dr. 

 Leonhard Stejneger, who placed at my disposal the 

 entire collection of reptiles belonging to the United 



