REPTILIA 



145 



cording to Lyddeker, can trot cheerfully along with three 

 full-grown men on its back. " Tortoise shell " used for 

 combs and other articles is obtained from the overlapping 

 scales of the hawk bill turtle, common in the West Indies. 

 The diamond-back terrapin, found along the Atlantic Coast 

 from Massachusetts to Texas, is prized for making soup. 



Fig. 272.— A Rattlesnake. 



Venomous snakes named in 

 order of virulence: 1. Coral snakes, 

 Elaps, about seventeen red bands 

 bordered with yellow and black 

 (coloured figure 6) (fatal). 2. 

 Rattlesnakes (very deadly). 3. 

 Copperhead (may kill a small 

 animal of the size of a dog). 



4. Water moccasin (never fatal). 



5. Ground rattler. — Effects: Pulse 

 fast, breathing slow, blood tubes 

 dilated , blood becomes stored in ab- 

 dominal blood tubes, stupefaction 





Fig. 273a.— Head of 

 ViPER, showing typical 

 triangular shape of head 

 of venomous snake. 



Fig. 273 £. — Side View, 

 showing poison fangs ; also 

 tongue (forked, harmless). 



Fig. 274. — Vipers Head, 

 showing poison sac at 

 base of fa'ngs. 



Fig. 275. — Skull, showing 

 teeth, fangs, and quadrate 

 bone to which lower jaw 

 is joined. See Fig. 284. 



