Turtles Reptiles 
forwards or backwards, or balance himself with the 
tip of his snout above the surface of the water. He 
can also yawn in the sleepiest fashion, opening wide 
his mouth and shutting his eyes. He has eyelids 
like mufflers, and when he closes his eyes he pulls 
them back into his head, and the mufflers close over 
them. He loves to sprawl in the sunshine, and take 
a sun bath with his legs, tail and head as far out of the 
shell as possible. When he is disturbed he hisses. 
The glass of his aquarium is too much for Daniel’s 
comprehension, and he spends a deal of time trying 
to decide why he cannot swim through it. 
However, Daniel’s greatest accomplishment is his 
interest in music. There was a dreamy look in his 
eyes as he lay sprawled out in the sun one day that 
gave me the idea. I straightway bought a harmon- 
icum and each day before I fed him I played a few 
strains. He was attentive to the music from the 
first; but after the fourth day he associated it with 
the joys of a dinner of liver minced finely with scis- 
sors, for that is what he likes best. Ever since then 
as soon as he hears the music he evinces the keenest 
interest, often lifting himself up on his hind legs 
against the side of the aquarium and stretching up 
his head until he looks like a little snake in a box. 
He also recognizes me as the source of his food supply, 
and tells me that he is hungry by trying to swim 
toward me through the side of the aquarium with 
great persistence. If I move to the other side of the 
room, he moves to the corresponding side of his 
aquarium. He finally lost all fear of me and when I 
lift him from his aquarium he does not take the 
trouble to retire into his shell, not even pulling in his 
tail, which is a supreme test of his confidence. 
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