18 REPTILES OF THE WORLD 



ing characters; the plastron is immaculate yellow. 

 Head and neck are brightly striped; the former with 

 yellow, the latter with red and yellow. This is one 

 of the smallest of the terrapins; a fully grown adult 

 has a shell six inches long. The carapace is perfectly 

 smooth. Eastern North America generally is inhabited 

 by this attractive reptile. Closely related to it is the 

 Western Painted Terrapin, C. marginata, charac- 

 terized by the narrow yellow margins of the larger 

 shields and an elongated, blackish patch on the central 

 portion of the plastron. The habitat embraces the Cen- 

 tral States— Illinois, Ohio, Indiana and Iowa, and south- 

 ward in the Mississippi Valley. Bell's Terrapin, C. 

 belli, occurs west of the Mississippi Valley. It has vein- 

 like markings on the carapace and less red on the mar- 

 ginal shields; on the plastron is a curious, scribbled, 

 blackish pattern. Another of the smaller species is the 

 Chicken Terrapin, C. reticulata, having rather an 

 elongate carapace marked with a network of fine yellow 

 lines; there are no red markings on the marginal shields. 

 A large shell is eight inches long. This species has a 

 very long, snake-like neck. It inhabits the southeastern 

 portion of the United States. 



These smaller terrapins are generally familiar. They 

 are often called "pond turtles" and may be seen sunning 

 themselves in rows on derelict timber, from which they 

 tumble clumsily when frightened. Once in the water 

 their broadly-webbed feet take instant hold and they 

 scurry to the bottom where they hide in the aquatic vege- 

 tation. When they again approach the surface, it is 

 with the greatest caution. Only the snout and eyes are 

 thrust above the water. In this position they paddle 

 about inspecting the outlook until thoroughly satisfied 

 that all danger has gone when, one after another, they 



