Chapter XIV Aquatic Reptiles 



AQUATIC Reptiles at one time dominated 

 the rivers, lakes and seas and attained 

 huge proportions. To-day, they are 

 represented only by a few species of 

 turtle and small sea snakes. All are 

 confined to the tropical seas, though 

 occasionally the Gulf Stream brings a 

 turtle to our own chilly shores. The 

 Green Turtle which is cosmopolitan in 

 the warmer waters is omnivorous, feed- 

 ing on all kinds of fresh seaweeds and 

 living animals. The females only come 

 to land to lay. Choosing usually a 

 moonlight night, the mother turtle comes 

 ashore, selecting a sandy beach, and 

 makes a bee-line inland until she reaches 

 an area a few hundred yards above 

 high-tide mark, where she digs shallow 

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