Diane Bannister, age 10, of Somerville, Mass., for her question:

How do you pet a turtle?

As a rule, a reptile does not show affection, no matter how much you come to love him. He seems to live in a private world of his own, He may learn to know and recognize you, but he does not seem to care much whether you are there or not.  A turtle, however, is the one reptile who can disprove this rule. If you bring him up with proper care, he can, in his own way, be as loving as a kitten.

Andy knows such a turtle who works for the S.P.C.A. in San Francisco. His name is Duzzy Byte and. his foster mother is Miss Bobbins who visits school classes to explain the wonderful world of pets. Duzzy goes along with her because he is a durable fellows well able to stand the trips, the handling and the 1 if t ing in and, out,

Duzzy is a sturdy two and a half pounder and, when Miss Bobbins lifts him out of his box and puts him on her lap, you can guess the first question everybody asks. Does he bite? This is how he got his name. Duzzy has learned to be fond of people and he is no shrinking violet, with his head tucked into his shell.  He pulls his head and neck out as far as possible hoping, of all things, to be petted.

 Miss Bobbins told  Andy exactly how to pet a turtle. You may stroke him gently under the chin and he loves it, if he is a tiny baby turtle, you might start  by tickling him under the chin with a feather. Your finger, when tie  is tiny and unused to it, might seem big and clumsy.

Duzzy and any other potable turtle also loves to be stroked or gently patted on the head. Like a kitten, he also likes to have his cheeks and jaw rubbed. Miss Bobbins says when she toes this to Duzzy he presses hard against her fingers, hoping for more.

Chances are, your turtle eats meat, fruits and vegetables, If he is off his food, here is a bit of information about him which might help. Turtles love bright colors, especially red. If you dangle a bit of red meat on a string, your turtle~ may be tempted. You also could try a bit of red cloth or ribbon with his salad. With tender care your turtle may grow into an affectionate pet. However, do not expect as much from him as you would from a kitten, a puppy or a bunny. These furry pets are mammals and they are the most highly developed animals in intelligence and affection.

Your turtle will soon get to know you and be glad to see you. But he will never come when you call him. Perhaps this is because most of them are almost entirely deaf. Just a word of warning, however, some turtles may snap at you, so be careful.