1 240 



Rural Schoot. Ldafi.kt 



Young musk turtle, nat- 

 ural size. Adult six 

 times larvcr 



his short, stubby tail. The mud turtle has less odor than the musk 

 turtle. 



'V\\v mud turtles appear from hiljernation in April. They frequent 

 ponds, muddy streams, side inlets, stagnant cd}j;es of swamps, and large 



railroad ditches, where they usually remain crawlinj^ 

 about on the muddy bottom for fresh insects, 

 worms, and the like. If they are alarmed when 

 on land, they usually withdraw into their sliells, 

 l)ut at times they give their enemies severe bites. 

 When in the water, however, they l^ury them- 

 selves in the mud at the approach of danger. 

 They do not bask as much as the pond turtles, 

 usually showing only the head above water. 



In June the female seeks out inuddy or sandy 

 soils, or decaying humus or rotten wood in woody places or other situ- 

 ations, and lays from four to eight eggs at a depth of from three to four 

 inches beneath the surface. The eggs are elliptical, one and one-eighth 

 inches long, and seven-eighths inch in diameter, and have a brittle shell. 

 Some snakes are particularly fond of them. 



(I3) The musk turtle looks somewhat like a small snapping turtle be- 

 cause of its very narrow plastron, which does not protect the fleshy inider 

 parts. The plastron is more or less cross-shaped, and cannot be closed. 

 The musk turtle has two yellow head-stripes from the snout to the neck, 

 and the upper shell is more arched, or dome-shaped, than that of the mud 

 turtle. 



The musk turtle is found in North America east of the Rocky Mountain.-^. 

 It appears from hibernation about April i, and may choose deeper water 

 than the mud turtle, but at times they are found together in shallow, 



muddy ditches or stagnant swamps. Its obscure 

 color, the slight swellings on the naked parts, and 

 the algae growing on the upper shell, make the 

 musk tvirtle very inconsi)icuous while crawling 

 in the weedy bottom. It may or may not l^ask 

 in the air, but, usually, only the yellow-strijjed 

 head protrudes through the pond scum or the 

 alga) at the surface of the water. 



The musk turtle receives its name from the 

 musky secretion of glands in the region of the 

 hind legs; this doubtless serves as a means of defense, for, although the 

 musk turtle avoids danger whenever possible, it mil defend itself with 

 spirit. This turtle is a nuisance to fishermen, and straightens more than 

 one hook, or forces the fisherman to cut off the hook rather than extract 



Young musk turtle, nat- 

 ural size 



