The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-02-11
TALK ABOUT REPTILES.
How Some Foreten the Weather-Pecu-
liarities of the Chameleon.


narities of the Chameleon.
Yesterday, before the Parker Memo
rial science class, Mr.. Samuel Garman
talked about Reptiles and Batrach-
ians.' He brought TO the classroom Il
variety of specimens. and very cour-
teously answered a multitude of ques-
tions, thereby destroying some of the
popular opinions concerning the ami
mails OF which he has made Il special
study. He first referred to the table
which he had placed on the blackboard,
and said that in the Devonian period
fishes appeared. Some say they APP
peared i'll the Silurian. The ancestors
OF the present batrachians-tOads,f frogs,
and manderS-appeared il the sub
carboniferous time, while the crocodile
appeared in the Triassic and the turtle
in the .IlrasSic. In the Permian lizards
appeared, and We're numerous iii the
1'riassic Two birds, supposed 10 be
ancestors of the birds proper, appeared
in the Creiac The land turtle was
selected from among the specimens.
and a slight explanation of its structure
was given. Ii is Il lung-breathing ami
NAL. and undergoes no transformation.
The Sea-turtle,s toes are united in the
form of paddle. 1t makes long voy-
aces, sometimes crossing the Atlantic.
The sea turtles are immense, some of
them attain a weight of l.2O0 pounds.
They Craze on the grasses at the bottom
of the sea.
Crocodiles are represented by alliga-
tors. Their tails are used for SWIM
ming. and their legs aid in lifting them
out Of the mud. They build nests of
leaves and vegetation before it has be-
gun to decay layer of eggs, q layer
of vegetation. The heat of the vegeta-
ton haiches The eggs. The crocodile
differs from the alligator by having no
long separation between the nostrils
Ii has Il valve in the throat for keeping
out water. The crocodiles of the Nile
aud the Ganges are most dangerous.
AlligatorS are called cold blooded. be-
cause of their inability 10 develop much
heat in their bodies.
Lizards are very nearly the shape OF
crocodiles, and are covered with a skin
which has semblance of scales. not
like the scales of Il fish. A specimen OF
the house lizard was shown. This liz
ard is found in Asia. Africa, South
America. and in other countries. but not
in the United States. 1t is useful in
DESTROYING yermin. and can easily climb
walls. Ii lays its eggs under rafters.
in the thatches. and under leaves. 1t is
a mistake TO think of scorpions as very
poisonous; they are little venomous.
Bird spiders are somewhat venomous.
Large toadS, which have been called
poisonous, have no venom. Among the
lizards there is only one, 4 Mexican,
which is venomouS, and there IS some
doubt of him. Most of these animals,
when irritated, excrete yenomous
saliva, and even frogs will attempt to
bite when troubled. Toads can tell the
weather better than the weather bureau.
When it is dry they 90 down into the
ground for moisture; in damp weather
they come out of the ground. Lizards
stow themselves away when the sun
goes under cloud. and ut such times
turtles will hide.
A real chameleon was next exhibited.
The tail of this animal is prehensile; the
toes are divided into grOups-two on
one side, three on the other side of his
le". He is able to take on every color
on which he alights. The pigment un-
derneath the skin enables him TO II axe
the changes. which are made by the eX-
DanSion of the lungs, or by rays OF the
sun striking him. or other causes. Fear
will spot him all over. \ flying lizard
was shown. Ii had ribs extending o.,
covered with Il membrane. and. forms
Il parachute. (not like the winged lizard.
which has become eNtincD. This lioats
in the air. The little Florida lizard or
scorpion (incorrcctly called chamelcon)
Was exhibited. Some lizards are bipeds.
The animal commonly called the glass
snake is really Il lizard. lis jaws are
tied together. 81 il can moi expand them.
The tail is fragile. and may be broken
up TO the body: then another tail grows.
A specimen which had a anew tail. was
shown.
Snakes are divided into four groups
W0rm-snakes, non-yenomouS. poisonous,
and clawed snakes. Then there is q
snhdirisinn-those living on the ground.
those thai climb trees. and those that
live in the water. The real sea-serpent
is extinct 4 rat1lesnake was shown
and its characteristics dwelt upon. The
rattlesnake sounds his rattle as Il warn
ing of his approach, but will not attack
unless driven by fear to protect himself.
lie usually coils himself and strikes, but
he sometimes strikes 1our or five times
in succession without coiling. After 4
few strokes the venom is exhausted, and
the snake has 10 wait for TWO or three
hours Tor fresh supply. Snakes are
tinnid. and not aggressive. The cobra
IS said 10 be aggressive, and is the most
deadly OF all An action of the lymph
atics in q case of poisoning is all-im-
portant. Venom has no effect upon the
digestive organs. but works in the blood
Mr.. Garman said if he were bitten on
the finger, and had no sore in his mouth
Or on his lips, he would suck out the
poison, rapidly splitting ont the saliva,
not swallowing any; tie a string tightly
at the base of the finger, another at the
wrist. and another on the arm below
the elbow, and possibly one above the
elbow. He thought he would eauterize
the wound. He recommended freely
bathing the wound and drinking few
drops of ammonia in water.
Before ending his talk he showed a
salamander. and said they don't stand
fire at all.-BOstos Transcript