TURTLES AND TORTOISES 21 



the Gulf States and westward in the southern portion 

 of the range, to the lower Rio Grande. 



The several Central American terrapins are attrac- 

 tively marked. C. ornata has a pale olive carapace, 

 barred with pale green and yellow; the head is vividly 

 striped. One terrapin ranges into South America, as 

 far south as Argentina. 



Very young terrapins are beautifully marked and col- 

 ored. On most of them the pattern of the adult is inten- 

 sified to such a degree that they look like strange little 

 flowers or variegated leaves. For the aquarium they 

 are attractive additions, though unpleasant companions 

 for the fishes, as between feeding times they bite off 

 fins or tails, or do not hesitate to commit murder among 

 the more diminutive finny inmates of the tank. These 

 quarrelsome youngsters are fond of earthworms and 

 chopped raw beef. 



Adult terrapins (representing the larger species) are 

 practically omnivorous. They will eat snails, young 

 crawfish, minnows or sections of larger fishes, tadpoles 

 and frogs, while they frequently browse on the leaves 

 of aquatic vegetation. When captive, they will greedily 

 devour lettuce leaves if such be thrown upon the surface 

 of the tank. 



All of the terrapins are semi-aquatic. The extensively 

 webbed hind feet form powerful swimming organs. 

 Some of the species frequent swift, clear rivers with 

 rocky beds ; others, the slower and muddy streams ; a few 

 prefer the still waters of extensive, marshy areas. In 

 the winter they dig into the mud under shallow water 

 and undergo a period of stupor as long as the water 

 remains icy. Occasionally, during pronounced thaws 

 when the ice temporarily disappears, a venturesome rep- 

 tile emerges from the mud and, with motions so slow and 



