REPTILES. 



415 



which I find record measured nine inches between the eyes ; its other 

 dimensions were not given, though it was estimated to weigh more than 

 one hundred pounds. Mr. Fontaine thus describes the habits of a speci- 

 men which he kept in his fish-pond : " One day, after he had eaten, he 

 remained upon the rock where I had fed him, and which was only about 

 a foot beneath the surface, where it shelved over water ten feet deep. 

 A swarm of minnows and perch were picking up crumbs around him, 

 apparently unconscious of his presence. His head and feet were drawn 





Fig. 358. — Siiapping-turtle (Chelydra serpentina). 



sufficiently within the shell to be concealed. His mossy shell could not 

 well be distinguished from the projections of the rock on which he was 

 lying in ambush. Several large bass were gliding around him, occasion- 

 ally darting at the minnows. One of these, about fourteen inches in 

 length, came within striking distance of his head, which he suddenly 

 thrust out and fastened upon him, fixing his aquiline bill deeply into his 

 side and belly. He immediately drew the fish under him, and, holding 

 him down firmly to the rock with his fore feet, ate him greedily, very 

 much as a hawk devours his prey." 



