TURTLES AND SNAKES 



Fig. 311. — Mud turtle, Kinosternum subruhrum; 

 I, dorsal and 2, ventral view showing-^the plastron 

 with hinged ends which can be drawn up against 

 the carapace. 



one small species is the real mud turtle. It is not found north 

 of New York and even within its range it is far from common. 

 Its upper shell or carapace is plain dull brown and the broad 

 oval plastron is yellowish, the two ends of it being hinged so 

 that they can be drawn up closely against the carapace, the 

 trait which gives this family the name box turtles (Fig. 311). 



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