48 



Aquatic JLitz 



glands that both secrete and absorb. Let 

 an unfortunate insect alight upon a leaf 

 and the lobes close, the projections inter- 

 locking like the teeth of a steel trap, the 

 centre of the movement being the mid-rib 

 and is more rapid than might be expect- 

 ed. The glands secrete a fluid which acts 

 like the gastric juice of animals and re- 

 duces the victim to the proper state to 

 permit the absorption of its nitrogenous 

 matter. 



The Fly Trap may be potted in soil, 

 but it is more interesting to grow in 

 damp moss like an epiphytic orchid, 

 which will demonstrate that the roots 

 probably serve solely for the absorption 



of water. 



— ♦ 



The Chelonians 



(Concluded from Page 40) 

 young of ducks, coots, divers, and other 

 water fowl. 



The females of any of the species 

 come ashore in the summer time to lay 

 eggs. These may number several doz- 

 en to the single clutch, are perfectly 

 round, and as white as snow. She al- 

 ways selects a place where no shade can 

 ever be. Once satisfied with the select- 

 ed site, she works her way down into 

 the sand until all is covered save the tip 

 of her proboscis. Often it requires a 

 week or ten days, sometimes longer, be- 

 fore her entire complement is deposited. 

 Each egg possesses a very thin, brittle 

 shell, averages something over an inch 

 in diameter, and looks like a big, white 

 marble. 



By closely imitating their habitats in 

 nature, these turtles may easily be kept 

 in zoological gardens or on private prem- 

 ises; and there is no trouble in feeding 

 them beyond securing what they so read- 

 ily devour. Even good-sized fish, recent- 

 v dead, will be enjoyed by them — that 

 [s, by the larger specimens; while ang- 



ling worms constitute, in my experience, 

 the best food for the very young speci- 

 mens. 



In perfectly clear water it is a most 

 interesting experience to study their 

 various motions and graceful swimming. 

 The extreme suppleness of their limbs 

 admit of their darting either forwards or 

 backwards with extraordinary rapidity. 

 When frightened, one will scurry to the 

 bottom and hide much quicker than it- 

 takes to tell it. Here it will conceal it- 

 self among the vegetation, or even work 

 its way down into the sand or mud. 

 When it believes that the danger is over, 

 we next see its long, snake-like neck 

 protruding to admit of its seeing about 

 in all directions. Cautiously it will come 

 out into the open ; and should it desire 

 to breathe the air, it will, with a single 

 sweep of its powerful anterior limbs, 

 shoot to the surface like a rocket. 



Soft-shelled turtles have thriven in 

 captivity, if regularly fed in comfort- 

 able places, for many years at a time, 

 especially if the trial be made with speci- 

 mens of the proper ages, particularly the 

 young and subadult specimens. Old ones 

 do not do so well for some reason, hav- 

 ing probably been too long in their na- 

 tive waters. 



The South Side Aquarium Club, of 

 Chicago, will have a public exhibition of 

 aquarium fishes April nth to 18th, in- 

 clusive, in the Washington Park Conser- 

 vatory, Fifty-seventh and Cottage Grove 

 avenue. Thirty-five to forty tanks, with 

 as many species of fishes, will be shown. 



A bird in the hand is vulgar. Use a 

 knife and fork. 



Ignorance may be bliss, but one's 

 knowledge of one's ignorance is what 



blisters. 



