rds in North America, the
greatest number being found in the drier parts of the continent. Of this
whole number only two species are poisonous, and only one of these, the
Gila Monster, is found within the United States, being confined in its
range to desert regions of Southern Arizona and New Mexico.

The Blue-tailed Lizard or Skink, which occurs from Massachusetts to
Florida and westward to Central Texas, is commonly believed to be
poisonous in the Southern States, where it is called the Red-headed
"Scorpion," but this is one of the popular myths still too common among
intelligent people.

The Glass "Snake" of the Central and Southern States is a peculiar
lizard in that it has no legs. That it is able, after being broken to
pieces, to collect itself together again and continue to live is another
old myth.

[Illustration: DIAMOND-BACKED TERRAPIN

Range: Salt marshes of the Atlantic Coast and Gulf of Mexico from
Massachusetts to Texas.]

About a dozen kinds of Horned "Toads" are found in the western portions
of the United States. Although toad-like in the shape of their bodies
and in some of their habits, they are really lizards.

The American Chameleon or "Green" Lizard, which ranges in this country
in the coastal regions from North Carolina to the Rio Grande River, has
a remarkable power of changing the color of its skin through shades of
brown, gray, and green. In fact, it is said to rival or possibly excel
the true chameleons of the Old World.

For treatment of the Snakes see Woodcraft, Section XIII.

FISHES

_"It is not all of fishing to fish."_

[Illustration: PADDLE-FISH

So-called from the paddle-like or spoon-shaped snout. Eggs used for
caviar. Range: The Mississippi River and its tributaries.]

The fishes are the lowest of the true vertebrates or animals with
backbones, and all live in the water. They do not have lungs, but
breathe through gills on the sides of the head. They are cold-blooded
animals; i. e., the temperature of the blood is the same as that of the
water in which they are living. Fishes are found in both fresh and
salt water all over the world and have adapted themselves to many
conditions; for example, certain fishes have lived in caves so long that
they are blind; some live in the coldest water, while others can revel
in the heat of the hot springs.

[Illustration: COMMON CATFISH

The barbels which suggest the whiskers of a cat are responsible for the
name. This fish has no