130 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



meiis, from 14 to 114. Plastron black and yellow. In the only two very 

 young specimens available from the state, the black covers the central % of 

 the plastron; in adults the black more or less surrounds a central yellowish 

 area which may be so reduced as to produce an almost entirely black plastron. 

 Head and neck black above and marked with a few small yellow or orange 

 spots; a prominent blotch of orange or yellow somewhat behind and above the 

 tympanum. Throat marbled with black and yellow. 



Skin smooth or with small scales, the latter largest on the limbs. Dorsal 

 surfaces of legs blackish with or without yellow spots; ventral surfaces 

 yellowish. 



Specimens examined, 191; specimens preserved, 53; specimens studied, 17. 



Range. — Maine to northern Florida and west in the north to southern 

 Michigan. 



The spotted turtle has been found in many parts of glaciated Ohio, par- 

 ticularly in the more northern counties (Map 31). It has not been taken in 

 the unglaciated part of the state, and the general absence of ponds and bogs 

 in this area would indicate it will be found there, if at all, in only a few 

 localities. Records for the state are as follows: 



Ashtabula County: Andover (TZS 2385); Famham (OSM 333); Pymatun- 

 ing Swamp, near Andover (CSNH 1504; TZS 889-91. 1042. 1801); 3 mi. NE of 

 Richmond Center (TZS 1800, 2236). Champaign County: Cedar Swamp. 5 mi. 

 S.SW of Urbana (OSM 131, 134. 180. 235. 237.2, 278, 331; TZS 358-9, 2228-33). 

 Erie County: (UMMZ 41954-5); Castalia (Morse. 1904). Franklin County: 

 Columbus (Morse. 1904). FuLTON CoUNTY: 2 mi. N of Colton; near Neapolis 

 (OSM 242.1). Geauga County: Burton Twp. (OSM 455). Henry County: 

 NE corner of Washington Twp. (TZS 1899). Huron County: Peru Twp. (TZS 

 1802). Lake County: W end of Mentor Marsh. Mentor Twp. (TZS 541). Licking 

 County: Buckeye Lake (OSM 130.1-.2. 132-3, 135, 136.1-.2, 171, 332). Logan 

 County: Pony Island, Indian Lake (TZS 255). LoRAIN CoUNTY: Camden Lake, 

 S of Kipton (OC) ; Oberlin (OC). LucAS CoUNTY: Adams Twp; 3 mi. W of 

 Monclova (TZS 2157); Oak Openings, Holland (TZS 7); Oak Openings (OSM 

 20I.2-.3; TZS 228); Oak Openmgs, Springfield Twp.; West Toledo (CSNH 1503; 

 TZS 1168); Washington Twp. PoRTAGE CoUNTY: Solon Bog, Aurora Pond, Aurora 

 Twp. (CMNH). Williams County: Tamarack Ditch, Section 31, Florence Twp. 

 (TZS 958). Wood County: Grand Rapids. 



Habitat and Habits. — Spotted turtles show a marked preference for shallow 

 water. They were found in roadside ditches, small streams, bogs, tamarack 

 swamps, wet meadows, and along the edges of small ponds and lakes, but 

 were not seen in rivers or other sizable bodies of water. Nearly all those col- 

 lected were in clear water, but whether they exhibited a dislike for turbid 

 areas, or whether they were overlooked by the collectors in such places was not 

 determined. On warm sunny days they frequently were seen resting or slowly 

 walking about on the bottom in clear shallow water. 



In early spring they often bask in the sun along the banks or upon such 

 objects as logs or stumps protruding from the water. When alarmed they fall 

 or walk in at once and swim to the bottom where they either remain motion- 

 less, burrow into the mud or crawl beneath sheltering objects. They are not 

 particularly wary and the seasoned collector seldom has difficulty in capturing 

 nearly all he may see. 



