TURTLES AND TORTOISES 25 



Shell colored like preceding. Narrow yellow lines on head; a yellow 

 spot behind each eye. Kohn's Terrapin, M. kohnii. 



Habitat: Lower Mississippi Valley. 

 Olive; no blotches. Yellow markings on the marginal shields. A 

 broad yellow figure between the eyes, forking into bands 

 at the rear of the head. Baur's Terrapin, M. pulchra. 



Habitat: Alabama River. 

 Olive; each of the shields encloses a yellow ring that is bordered 

 internally and externally with dark brown. 



Ocellated Terrapin, M. oculifera. 

 Habitat: Lower Mississippi Valley. 



Of the above species, M . geographica and M. lesueurii 

 are abundant terrapins and sold commonly in the 

 markets. 



Damonia is a small genus made up of rather diminu- 

 tive, semi-aquatic turtles inhabiting the East Indies, 

 China and Japan. The shell is high and narrow ; most 

 of the species have three sharp keels on the back. 



Reeve's Turtle, Damonia reeved, of China and 

 Japan, will thrive for years in captivity. Few of these 

 turtles have a shell over four inches long; above, the 

 shell is dull uniform brown; the color beneath is dark 

 yellow. Many specimens have silvery white eyes, which 

 appear very sharp and cunning. Reeve's Turtle will 

 eat worms, raw meat, fish and tender leaves. It is an 

 agile swimmer and when frightened will dive beneath 

 the shadow of a log or rock. The approach to the sur- 

 face is slow and cautious; the snout is barely poked 

 out of the water while the animal supports itself by a 

 slow, treading motion of the hind feet; at such a mo- 

 ment a slight commotion will cause the turtle to 

 hysterically reverse its position, frantically paddle to 

 the bottom and remain there for a longer period than 

 before. While captives become tame enough to 

 scramble from the water and take food from the hand, 

 they are naturally timid; if handled they exude such a 

 foul and disagreeable odor from special glands near 



