90 COPEIA 



is entirely carnivorous." 3 "It is wholly carnivorous 

 in its habits, and is very destructive to fish and young 

 water-fowl."* 



The above statements are undoubtedly true in 

 the main, fish and other animal life constituting the 

 chief part of its food. The following record is, there- 

 fore, of interest as being an exception to the usual 

 habit. 



On July 9, 1916, I took a Snapping Turtle (cara- 

 pace 12 inches in length) from a mud hole on the 

 border of a salt marsh at Sagamore Beach, Cape Cod, 

 Massachusetts. The stomach was well filled with re- 

 cently eaten marsh grass (Distichlis spicata), the 

 blades being intact, although bent and tangled. There 

 was nothing else in the stomach. The turtle was a 

 male, quite fat and apparently in a healthy condition. 



H. L. Babcock, 



Dedham, Mass. 



SNAKE CONSERVATION IN 

 CALIFORNIA. 



The Lorquin Natural History Club of Los An- 

 geles, Calif., is at present devoting some time and 

 money to calling the attention of Californians to the 

 use of some of the harmless snakes and the reasons 

 why they should not be killed. In the vicinity of the 

 city signs are being posted at mountain resorts, small 

 cities and along roads. These signs read as follows: 



DO NOT KILL HARMLESS SNAKES. 



They are useful in destroying disease- 

 bearing rodents. 

 The only snake in California that can 

 harm you is the Rattlesnake. 



Lorquin Natural History Club, 



Los Angeles. 



3 The Reptile Book, p. 14, by R. L. Ditmars. 



4 The American Natural History. Vol. IV, p. 41, by W. T. Hornaday. 



