THE REPTILE VIVARIUM. 



I NOW send you a few notes on reptiles which 

 have come under my own observation, and also 

 some hints on the management of the reptile 

 vivarium, a subject which may possibly have at- 

 tracted little attention from many of your readers 

 on account of the widely-spread prejudice against 

 " creeping things ; " and the trouble attendant on 

 acquiring a competent knowledge of their habits 

 may also have deterred some otherwise fond of 

 studying Nature under her various aspects. 

 Frequently, a little time ago, an aquarium would 

 be purchased by persons perfectly ignorant of its 

 proper arrangement, and forthwith would be 

 crowded with all kinds of fish, carnivorous larvae, 

 Dytiscid.ce, and newts. In a few days, as might 

 have been expected, a pretty scene of confusion took 

 place. Fish were killed, or had their flesh eaten 

 away by voracious beetles ; newts escaped, and were 

 trodden upon, or were found in unexpected places, 



