Reptile Study 



209 



The turtle's head is decidedly snakelike. Its color differs with differ- 

 ent species. The wood turtle has a triangular, horny covering on the 

 top of the head, in which the color and beautiful pattern of the shell are 

 repeated; the underparts are brick-red with indistinct yellowish lines 

 under the jaw. The eyes are black with a yellowish iris, which somehow 

 gives them a look of intelligence. The turtle has no eyelids like our own, 

 but has a nictitating membrane which comes up from below and com- 

 pletely covers the eye; if we seize the turtle by the head and attempt to 

 touch its eyes, we can see the use of this eyelid. When the turtle winks, 

 it seems to turn the eyeball down against the lower lid. 



The sense of smell in turtles is not well developed, as may be guessed 

 by the very small nostrils, which are mere pin-holes in the snout. The 

 mouth is a more or less hooked beak, and is armed with cutting edges 

 instead of teeth. The constant pulsation in the throat is caused by the 

 turtle swallowing air for breathing. 



The turtle's legs, al- 

 though so large and soft, 

 have bones within them, 

 as the skeleton shows. 

 The claws are long and 

 strong; there are five 

 claws on the front and 

 four on the hind feet. 

 Some species have a dis- 

 tinct web between the 

 toes; in others, it is less 

 marked, depending upon 

 whether the species lives 

 mostly in water or out 

 of it. The color of the 

 turtle's body varies with 

 the species; the body is 

 covered with coarse, 

 rough skin made up of 

 various-sized plates. 



The enemies of turtles 

 are the larger fishes and 

 other turtles. Two tur- 

 tles should never be kept 

 in the same aquarium, 

 since they eat each 

 others' tails and legs with 

 great relish. They feed 

 upon insects, small fish, 

 or almost anything soft- 

 bodied which they can 

 find in the water; they 

 are especially fond of 

 earthworms. The species which frequent the land, feed upon tender 

 vegetation and also eat berries. In an aquarium, a turtle should be 

 fed earthworms, chopped fresh beef, lettuce leaves and berries. The 

 wood turtle is especially fond of cherries. 



Boxy, a trained turtle. 

 Photo by Silas Lottridge. 



