REPTILIA 



145 



cording to Lyddeker, can trot cheerfully along with three 

 full-grown men on its back. "Tortoise shell" used for 

 combs and other articles is obtained from the overlapping 

 scales of the hawkbill turtle, common in the West Indies. 

 The diamond-back terrapin, found along the Atlantic Coast 

 from Massachusetts to Texas, is prized for making soup. 



FIG. 272. A RATTLESNAKE. 



Poisonous snakes of United 

 States named in order of virulence : 

 i. Coral snakes, Elaps, about sev- 

 enteen red bands bordered with yel- 

 low and black (colored figure 6) 

 (fatal). 2. Rattlesnakes (seldom 

 fatal). 3. Copperhead (may kill 

 a small animal size of dog). 



4. Water moccasin (never fatal). 



5. Ground rattler. Effects: Pulse 

 fast, breathing slow, blood tubes 

 dilated, blood becomes stored in ab- 

 dominal blood tubes, stupefaction 



FIG. 2730. HEAD OF 

 VJPER, showing typical 

 triangular shape of head 

 of venomous snake. 



FIG. 273 . SIDE VIEW, 

 showing poison fangs ; also 

 tongue (forked, harmless). 



FIG. 274. VIPER'S HEAD, 

 showing poison sac at 

 base of fangs. 



FIG. 275. SKULL, showing 

 teeth, fangs, and quadrate 

 bone to which lower jaw 

 is joined. See Fig. 284. 



