REPTILES. 391 



moccasin far more so than the copperhead. It even exceeds the rattle- 

 snakes in its dangerous qualities; for the latter always gives warning, but 

 the moccasin and the copperhead never do. In the habits of these two 

 there is considerable difference. Though the copperhead is occasionally 

 seen in damp places, it seems to prefer the- high and dry land, especially 

 that of mountains. The moccasin, on the other hand, lives in damp j daces, 

 and frequently takes to the water for its food of frogs, tadpoles, and 

 fishes. 



Lizards. 



The distinctions ..between the lizards and the serpents and turtles are 

 quite marked, if we take only the typical forms into consideration. Lizards 

 are scaly reptiles with four legs. Snakes, as we have seen, lack the legs, 

 while turtles have a hardened shell. This distinction, however, does not 

 hold good in all cases, for, as we shall see in a short time, there are lizards 

 without legs and scales. In such cases we have to rely on features of 

 internal structure to solve the question where these forms are to be placed. 

 There is besides another group of living reptiles, — the crocodiles and alli- 

 gators, — which cannot be separated from the lizards by the superficial 

 characters given. In this case, too, it is internal structure that must be 

 relied upon. 



First among the lizards come the geckos, curious forms with large toes, 

 especially adapted for climbing. Each toe terminates with an adhesive 

 disc, and by means of this they are able to climb up a smooth, perpendicu- 

 lar surface, like the walls of a house. All of them are tropical and semi- 

 tropical, only one species occurring in the United States, and that one is 

 very rare in Florida. In some parts of the tropics they fairly swarm, some 

 of the species living about houses, while others prefer to keep away from 

 the haunts of men. Some species become semi-domesticated, and shortly 

 after sunset they will appear about the houses, utterly regardless of the 

 presence of its rightful inhabitants, running up and clown the walls, and 

 creeping into all of the corners in their search for the insects on which 

 they feed. No one hinders them ; for all know how much good they do 

 in destroying cockroaches, ants, centipedes, scorpions, and the thousand 

 other pests which contribute to make life a burden in those climes. 



Some of them utter a cry, and it is from this that the name of some of 

 the species is derived, a name which has been extended to all. Others 

 croak more like a frog, and still others have other notes. In many the 

 tail is very brittle ; and since these animals quarrel much among them- 

 selves, accidents to this member are common, it sometimes being broken 

 completely off. This, however, is a matter of but little importance ; for 



