114 PKOCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF _ [Mar., 



4. Sternothoerus carina tus (Gray). 



Two specimens of musk turtles, agreeing with each other in every 

 particular of structure and markings, were taken in the Okefinokee. 

 These specimens represent an interesting form of S. carinatus. They 

 differ from the normal in that the distinct black spots of the head 

 are very obsolete and the black streaks or spots of the carapace, 

 usually so prominent, are almost absent or only faintly visible. 

 The gular shield is very small, a raised boss or knob. 



The carapace is very rough, the vertebral plates sharp and inclined 

 to overlap; dark brown in color, rubbed off to sordid yellow in 

 spots; characteristic markings of carapace faint; both extremities 

 of carapace obtusely rounded and slightly serrate, upper surface 

 distinctly three ridged with central carina prominent; plastron 

 almost solid, very narrow posteriorly and weakly notched behind; 

 uniform yellow in color. Head dark brown with obsolete black 

 spots, no lines above or below eyes; snout tapering and conical; 

 under jaw with longitudinal black stripes. Legs uniform black; feet 

 broadly webbed; claws thin and sharp. Tail thick and suddenly 

 acuminate at apex. The larger specimen measures as follows: 

 Length of carapace 3f inches, width 2^ inches; length of plastron, 

 2| inches, maximum width 2 inches; height of shell IJ inches; 

 width of head | inch. 



No eggs or young of this turtle were collected and no data were 

 secured as to its habits or life history. 



5. Chrysemys floridana LeConte. Plate II, fig. 4 ; III, fig. 6. 



This is probably the commonest turtle on the islands of the swamp. 

 They were often seen on- the sandy banks where they came to deposit 

 their eggs, or found sunning themselves on the logs in the lakes 

 and crossways or in the smaller cypress ponds on the islands. These 

 turtles were active and hard to approach, unless taken with great 

 caution from the rear, but were numerous and often observed. 

 They were very common about the Lees' clearing, where not infre- 

 quently the eggs were plowed up, and were also found on Mixon's 

 Hammock in a cleared sandy portion just west of a prominent 

 Indian mound. About the Lees' clearing the dogs often discovered 

 these turtles and by barking attracted the attention of members 

 of the party. The dogs in the same way were constantly surprising 

 the turtles on the hammocky edges of the island as the reptiles were 

 returning to the water after laying their eggs. In endeavoring to 

 arrest the progress of the turtles, the dogs usually had recourse to 

 claws and teeth, and many of the specimens secured show deep 



