CONTENTS 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . vii 



PREFACE . . ..... ix 



INTRODUCTION .... xi 



PART I: THE TURTLES AND TORTOISES 



Order CHELONIA 



CHAPTER PAGE 



I. CLASSIFICATION op THE NORTH AMERICAN TURTLES 



AND TORTOISES . . 3 



II. THE SEA TURTLES; Families Sphargida and Chelcmidce 

 Largest of the Chelonians. These Strictly Aquatic 

 Reptiles May be Recognised by their Seal-like 

 Flippers . . . .4 



III. THE SNAPPING TURTLES; Family Chelydridce 



A Small Family, Composed of Three Large and 



Powerful Species . 1 1 



IV. THE MUSK OR MUD TURTLES; Family Cinosternidce 

 The Genera Aromochelys and Cinosternum, Com- 

 posed of Small and Thoroughly Aquatic Species, 



the Majority Inhabiting North America . 17 



V. THE TERRAPINS; The Genera Chrysemys, Malaco- 

 clemwys, and Cbelopus. Family Testudinidce. 

 A Group of Aquatic Chelonians Known Commonly 

 as Pond Turtles and River Turtles. They are 

 Characterised by their Broad, Flat Shell. 

 Most of the Species are Edible . . 28 



VI. THE Box TURTLES; Genera Emys and Cistudo 



Turtles with Divided, Hinged Plastrons Descriptions 



of the Species Their Habits . ' . . 54 



VII. THE TORTOISES; Genus Testudo 



Strictly Terrestrial Chelonians. Represented in North 



America by Three Species . . . 65 



xv 



