KEPTILE LIFE IN CAPTIVITY. 11 



lumbering brute, with a large head, which it cannot 

 retract within its shell, a long scaly tail, and is very 

 vicious. A bite from a specimen a foot long would be 

 a very serious matter, as it has strong hooked jaws, and 

 takes every opportunity of snapping. 



The Trionyx group is remarkable in having a small 

 amount of bony shields in their carapaces and plastra, 

 and in being covered with soft skin. They are flattened, 

 and as the name implies, have only three nails on their 

 feet. Their nostrils end in a tubular prolongation, 

 and the horny jaws are sheathed in skin, yet the 

 larger members of this group are very savage. 



A long experience with reptiles and amphibia has 

 afforded many opportunities of noticing remarkable facts 

 about them. On one occasion an agama, six inches long, 

 and a small stumpy-nosed crocodile shared the heated 

 case with a large S. African bull frog [Rana adspersa). 

 The former was missed, and as suspicions rested on the 

 large frog — which was seven inches long from tip of 

 snout to vent — the amphibian was made to disgorge its 

 meal and the lizard revived. Ultimately, it and the 

 small crocodile were eaten by the huge frog, which 

 could also take mice as food. Most reptiles are 

 cannibalistic and will not hesitate to kill and eat their 

 own kind. A common chameleon caught and killed a 

 small anole, which was dashing about its case, before it 

 could be stopped. 



Another chameleon caught a triton and bit it 

 severely; but in this case the biter was bit, as in spite 

 of being attended to at once the toxins of the newt 

 proving too much for the attacker; and the former died 

 within half an hour. 



Chameleons are easily kept while the summer ond 

 autumn months are in force, but as soon as wiater 



B 



