CATALOGUE OF VERTEBRATES. 639 



buted throughout the State. The creeks of the central counties 

 generally contain them, associated with the more common species." 



M. palustris, Gmel. Terrapin. Salt-marsh Turtle. Diamond-back. 



Sheath of jaws straight ; concentric dark stripes on plates of 

 both carapace and plastron ; color greenish to dark olive. 



" The eagerness with which this species is sought, in conse- 

 quence of the value set upon it as an article of food, has tended 

 to render them scarce. The sea-board counties of the State now 

 furnish but few in comparison with twenty years ago (1868)." 



PSBUDEMYS, Gray. 

 P. rugosa, Shaw (Ptychemys, Ag.) Red-bellied Terrapin. 



Jaws serrated ; neck with yellow stripes ; plastron red or 

 partly yellow ; marginal plates of carapace with much red ; gen- 

 eral color above dusky, with red markings. 



" Not an abundant species. This and M. geographieus have 

 no apparent peculiarities in habits from the tribe to which they 

 belong." 



P. hieroglyphica, Holbr. (Trachemys, Ag.) Hieroglyphic Turtle. 



Jaws not serrated ; olive brown, with broad, reticulated, yellow 

 lines; head small. Habitat Eastern United States. It is 

 desirable to obtain information about this turtle, which may be 

 mistaken for preceding. 



Family CINOSTERXIDJE. 



Stink-pots. 



CINOSTBRNUM, Wagl. 



C. pennsylvanicum, Bosc. (Thrynosternum, Ag.) Small Box, or Mud 

 Turtle. 



Anterior lobes of plastron nearly equal, and both capable of 

 closing the shell ; the posterior one emarginate ; carapace high- 

 est posterior to center ; dusky brown ; light stripes and yellow 

 dots on head and neck. Length, 4 inches. 



" This species, notwithstanding its specific name, is not an 

 abundant one in New Jersey, More common in the central and 

 southern than northern qounties." 



