10 TRAXSACTIOXS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



rinjosus) is twelve or eighteen inches long, and has large 

 scales like miniature fir cones on its head and back. 

 There are two poisonous lizards, known as Gila monsters 

 [Heloderma horriduTn and a second H . suspectum), they 

 certainly seem to have the power of killing small 

 mammals or birds with their salivary secretion. 



In appearance the common Gila monster is a dusky 

 colour with broad yellowish bars across its back, and the 

 scales are tuberculated. 



Many of these creatures become quite tame and 

 learn to know their attendant, and will watch for feeding 

 time. 



Tortoises present very little difficulties in the way 

 of keeping. Land species will usually feed readily on 

 green vegetables or fruit ; the African genus Cinixys 

 has only eaten bananas with me. Needless to say, they 

 require an even heat. 



The water tortoises are among the most interesting 

 of this group ; they are all carnivorous, Avith a verj- few 

 exceptions. 



The members of the American genus Chrysemys are 

 ])rettily marked when young, many of them having a 

 remarkable colour S(dienie, in which red, yellow, brown 

 or green predominates, and the general effect is very 

 striking. Tlie best known is ])iobably (' . p/cfa. which 

 has an olive cara])ace with yellowisli or reddisJi stripes 

 outlining the shields of the back. l^ach marginal 

 shield has a ciicular red line on it. and (he same colour 

 is seen on ilic under sides of these shields. The plastron 

 is yellow. TJiey are to be had from the dealers, ranging 

 from one to three inches long, and will take small pieces 

 ot meal oi' worms. Water lixing species have flat webbed 

 feet and swim well. 



A remarkable animal is the Alligator terrapin, a 



