Hurler — Herpetology of Missouri. 245 



jecting downward. Choanae between the eyes. Skull without bony 

 temporal arch. Digits with short webs or none. 



Key to the Species of Missouri. 



Shell with traces of keel, rounded above, no bridge. Hind feet 

 with four toes. Carolina. 



Shell as in Carolina. Hind feet with three toes. 



kinosternoides. 

 Shell without traces of keel, flat above, a distinct bridge. 



ornata. 



98. Teerapene CAROLINA Liniiaeus. Carolina Box Turtle. 



Testudo Carolina, Testudo carinata, Testiido clausa, Testudo virgulata, 

 Testudo incarcerata striata, Emys clausa, Emys virgulata, Emys 

 schneideri, Terrapene clausa, Terrapene nebulosa, Cistudo Carolina, 

 Cistudo clausa, Cistudo clausa clausa, Cistudo Virginia, Terrapene 

 carinata, Testudo tessellata minor caroliniana. 



Description. — Carapace very convex with at least a trace of an obtuse 

 vertebral keel, which is more distinct in the young. Vertebral shields 

 broader than long and narrower than the costals. Posterior marginals 

 flared outward. Caudals directed downward. Plastron tightly closing 

 the shell, without trace of a bridge. Broader posteriorly than ante- 

 riorly, rounded in front and behind. Upper jaw hooked, the hook en- 

 tire. The lower jaw turned upward at the tip. Alveolar surfaces nar- 

 row. Limbs and feet scaly. Digits with very indistinct web. Claws 

 stout. Tail short. 



The quadrato-jugal is rudimentary and is not connected with the 

 jugal. Hence the bony zygomatic arch is incomplete. The number 

 of phalanges in each hind foot is 2-3-3-3-2. (Baur.) 



Color. — The colors of the carapace are yellow, brown or black. Some- 

 times the darker color predominates, sometimes the yellow. Usually 

 the ground is brown or reddish brown, while the yellow appears as 

 spots of various shapes; often radiating from the point of growth of the 

 scute. The ground color may appear to be yellow, relieved with black 

 spots. The plastron is variously ornamented with black and yellow. 

 The head, neck, limbs, and tail are brown, with spots of orange. Some- 

 times the plastron is all over ebony black. The young have a single 

 yellow spot on each of the scutes of the carapace. (Hay.) 



8ize. — Length of carapace 128 mm.; width of same 102 mm.; depth 

 73 mm. Length of plastron 132 mm. 



Habitat. — New England States south to the Gulf, west- 

 ward to the Mississippi River. So far I have only one 

 specimen captured on the west side of the Mississippi 



