MIGRATION 117 



after year to the same island or sand-bank for the 

 purpose of laying their eggs. AYhen the conditions 

 remain the same it is probable that all land-reptiles 

 spend their lives very close to one spot. Snakes are 

 noted in autumn as gathering toward their hibernating 

 places. 



Turtles, however, migrate from pond to pond, 

 either on account of drought or to hunt new fields for 

 feeding, etc. They soon find out a new pond, if it be 

 suitable for a home. The author has seen directly 

 after a rain quite a "fiock" of little mud-turtles 

 half a mile from any body of water. 



With the exceptions of the groups of turtles often 

 seen sunning themselves on a log, and the bundling 

 of snakes in hibernating, reptiles are not known to 

 be very social or gregarious. However, sea-snakes 

 go in shoals, as do some fishes. Reptiles may call to 

 each other at the social season in some faint way — 

 even the snakes having, perhaps, some little voice 

 besides their hiss. It is fairly certain that mother- 

 snakes signal in some manner to their young. The 

 rattlesnake is said to use its rattle as a call to its mate, 

 as well as a threatening implement or a warning. It 

 is supposed by many students that this rattle is not 

 in any way intended for the benefit of the foe, but 

 for the snake's own good; that while animals are 

 really warned of their danger in a way which they 

 will heed, the snake also is thereby saved from a 

 battle and the usual fatal consequences. 



Though poisoned to the death, nearly anything 

 that attacks a rattlesnake kills it before the poison 



