412 WILD ANIMALS 
parts of the animal are encased. The upper half of the shell is formed 
out of the ribs, widened and grown together. Between the upper and 
lower halves of the shell there is an opening at each end, for front legs 
and head and for hind legs and tail. These organs may be withdrawn 
into the shell, and then the entire animal is safe from any ordinary 
danger. 
There are many kinds of turtles, some of them inhabiting the land, 
others are found in ponds and rivers, and others in the sea. We are 
most likely to meet the smooth-shelled turtles or terrapins, which live 
half the time in the water of ponds and rivers and the rest of the time on 
near-by land. Many species of this group 
are highly valued for food and have 
helped to make “ turtle soup ” famous. 
Of the smooth-shelled turtles the com- 
monest is the Painted Turtle or Painted 
Terrapin. Its shell is scarcely six inches 
long, and is greenish black above, with 
yellow édges around all the plates except 
those along the side of the shell, which 
are marked with red. The under shell 
is yellow. This turtle has a habit of 
sunning itself on logs or stones over the 
water, ready to slide in at the moment 
it thinks you are coming too near. By this habit we may distinguish 
this species from the mud turtles. 
Turtles are reproduced from soft-shelled eggs which are slightly buried 
in earth or sand and Jeft to hatch in the sun. In case of the smooth- 
shelled turtles just described the eggs are laid a short distance from 
the water which the animals inhabit. 
Serpents. — Of the innumerable varieties of serpents only a few are 
found in the cold climate of the northern states, and not many of our 
readers will be apt to meet any other than the common Garter Snake. 
In a few limited areas the Rattlesnake also occurs. These two we there- 
fore describe. 
All serpents are flesh-eating animals, and live upon frogs and toads, 
other snakes, and small birds and mammals. Water snakes also catch 
fish for their meals. Some snakes bear their young alive as mammals 
do; other species lay soft-shelled eggs that are hatched in the sun. 
WESTERN PAINTED TURTLE 
