CHAPTER IX. 



REPTILES. 



TORTOISES : THE LETTERED TERRAPIN. 



'AKING the reptiles in their natural order, we must 

 begin with the tortoises. There is a group of these 

 slow-moving reptiles called terrapins in North 

 America. One of the most common is the lettered terrapin, 

 which inhabits rivers, lakes, and even marshes, where it lives 

 on frogs and worms. It is especially detested by the angler, 

 as it is a]it to take hold of his bait, and when he expects to 

 see a fine fish at the end of his line, he finds that a little 

 tortoise has hold of it. 



The back is of a dark brown, the edges being ornamented 

 with scarlet marks, like some Eastern alphabet in form. 



THE CHICKEN TORTOISE 



Large numbers of these little tortoises, about ten inches in 

 length, are seen V)asking together on the logs or stones on the 

 borders of lakes or streams. The slightest noise arouses 

 them, when they slip off, splashing in all directions into the 

 water. They swim with their little heads above the surface 



