FAMILY CHELONID.E. 11 



This species is the well known and justly prized Terrapin of epicures. It is well distin- 

 guished as the Salt-water Terrapin, for it is found exclusively in salt or brackish streams near 

 the seashore. They bury themselves in the mud during the winter, from which they are taken 

 in great numbers, and are then very fat. 



The geographical limits of this species extend from the Gulf of Mexico, along the Atlantic, 

 to New-York. They are found along the northern shores of Long Island to its extremity, but 

 I am not informed whether it occurs on the opposite main shore. Dr. Storer does not mention 

 it in his valuable Report on the Reptiles of Massachusetts. The Prince of Canino has intro- 

 duced this species into Italy, but I have not learned with what success. 



THE SMOOTH TERRAPIN. 



Emys terrapin. 



PLATE XXIII. FIG. 63. — FIG. 65. Posterior vertebral plate. —(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Testudo terrapin. Schoepff, Hist. Testud. p. 64, pi. 15. 



La Tortue a lignes concentriques, variete 3me. Daud. Hist. Rept. Vol. 2, p. 157. 



Emys coticentnca. Gray, Synopsis apud Griff, p. 11. 



Emys terrapin. Holbrook, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol. 2, p. 13, pi. 2, (excl. syn.) Ed. lma ; Vol. 1, p. 87, pi. 12, Ed. 2da. 



Characteristics. Shell smooth, not sculptured with concentric marks ; posterior vertebral plate 

 regularly pentagonal. Length 5* - 7* 0. 



Description. In the skull, the occipital process is more slender and longer than in the pre- 

 ceding. No striking differences are observable in the shell, except that it is never so much 

 carinated as in the preceding species, and it has only a few concentric striae on the lateral 

 plates ; the last vertebral plate distinctly pentagonal. 



Color. Shell grey, with black concentric marks on each plate. Skin grey, speckled, and 

 spotted with black. 



I am indebted to Major Le Conte for a figure and note, pointing out the distinctive marks 

 between this and the preceding species, which had been confounded by Daudin, and not con- 

 tradistinguished by subsequent observers. They are both brought to our markets at the 

 same time, and sold under the common name of terrapin. The specimens of the two species 

 of the same size, examined by Major Le Conte, were both females. I had noticed the two, 

 and supposed them to be sexual varieties. The market people say that they are caught in the 

 same localities ; but as Schoepff derived his specimens (the present species) from Muhlenberg, 

 I am inclined to believe that the T. terrapin inhabits indifferently fresh and salt water. Schoepff 

 himself found one on Long Island, in water which was almost fresh. 



The figure and description of the Emys terrapin of my friend Dr. Holbrook, clearly point 

 out this species. His specimens are obscurely carinate on the vertebral line, and he is entirely 

 silent respecting the deep concentric marks which distinguish the other species. According 

 to Holbrook, this species occurs as far east as Rhode-Island. 



