208 VERTEBRATES. 



stages may be captured in the same situations with the 

 adults. 



No good conception of the life this animal leads can be 

 obtained in the laboratory. After studying it there, the 

 student should spend a day or two early in his summer 

 vacation studying the animal in its native haunts, learning 

 of its curious habits, and of the peculiar place it fills in 

 the economy and society of nature. 



The turtle is a representative of the class Reptilia (or 

 reptiles). 



Other Reptilia. Lizards, snakes, and alligators also 

 belong to the Reptilia. 



THE SNAKE. 



Lizards and Snakes present types of reptilian structure 

 so markedly different from that seen in the turtle that 

 the following outline is subjoined to enable the student to 

 know how to proceed in case a study of either of these 

 forms is to be undertaken. For guidance in studying 

 the details of their structure, he is referred to the refer- 

 ence works mentioned elsewhere. This meager outline is 

 written for the snake, but may be applied without much 

 change to the study of any common lizard. 



Study of the Live Specimen. Get a garter snake 

 (Eutania), or a black snake (Bascaniori), or any other 

 common harmless species, and study it alive. Notice the 

 exceeding gracefulness of its movements, the slenderness 

 of its flexuous form, the ease of its gliding motion, and 

 the beauty and harmony of its coloration. Observe : 



1. The entire absence of limbs. How is its rapid pro- 

 gression effected ? 



2. The position it assumes when molested and brought 

 to bay, and its method of defense. 



