Page:Turtles Snakes Frogs-Knobel.djvu/7



Many of the animals suffer from our prejudices far more than any other class. They are usually little known, but persecuted, feared, hated and ruthlessly destroyed wherever found.

Foremost, the snakes: these timid, watchful, silent and most graceful beings are for the most part perfectly harmless. Even the dangerous ones only use their terrible weapons in self-defence.

Turtles and frogs are often regarded as if void of feeling and ruthlessly tortured. Toads and salamanders, useful insect-destroyers, are truly homely to look at, but hiding under ground or beneath stones seem to try their best not to hurt our feelings. With a little acquaintance the student will find them useful, harmless creatures, fully deserving our sympathies.

The Latin names and some details are taken from D. S. Jordan′s “Manual of Vertebrate Animals” and from specimens at the Agassiz Museum, Cambridge.