Reptiles 
TURTLES 
\ SMALL turtle in a properly fitted aquarium 
jar, placed on one’s desk is a source of 
much entertainment. Daniel is the name 
of the baby painted terrapin which has thus 
entertained me for months. Daniel is a 
beauty, from his pink margined, two-inch shell to 
his black, yellow-striped head, and yellow-irised 
eyes; in fact, his eyes are particularly brilliant, 
and with their aid he makes observations on my habits 
for hours at a time. I place him on the bit of wood 
which imitates a log at one side of his pond, meanwhile 
he has drawn back his head, feet and tail, within the 
protective shell. But very soon he protrudes his 
head and looks me over; concluding that I am harm- 
less, he puts out gingerly two pairs of bow-legs, the 
hind pair ending with four, and the front with five 
sprawly claws; and when he becomes entirely free 
from fear, he unfolds in the rear a little triangular 
striped tail. 
Daniel’s accomplishments are many; he can sprint 
surprisingly fast when I take him out to clean his 
quarters; and if I place him on his back on the 
table, he stretches out his head, and using his snout 
as a pivot, he will soon claw himself right side up. 
He can climb out of the water upon his little piece of 
log with dexterity, and he can also scramble off the 
log in a great hurry; when in the water he can swim 
260 
