130 



REPTILES 



128. Turtles. — Turtles are easily recognized by their 

 outer skeleton. This skeleton is unlike the skeleton of 

 the starfish or crab, or of any other group of animals. The 



Figure 127. — Bull Snake with Hen's Egg in Mouth. 



skeleton of the turtle, composed mostly of skin plates, is 

 something like a box with a cover, the upper portion cor- 

 responding to the box itself, and the lower portion to the 



Figure 128. — Bull Snake after Swallowing Egg. 



cover. The box does not fit closely all the way around, 

 for there are places where the head, the tail, and the four 

 legs stick out. When the turtle is disturbed, the legs, 



