134 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



Milford Twp. (TZS 372, 1275). Erie County: Cedar Point (OSM 150); San- 

 dusky (Morse. 1904; UMMZ 31708. 32742. 40938); Venice (Babcock. 1919). 

 Fulton County: Clinton Twp.. W. of Wauseon (OSM 268); West Fork. Swan 

 Creek. Swan Creek Twp. (TZS 518). Henry CoUNTY: Bad Creek. Texas (TZS 

 363); NE corner Washington Twp. Lake CountY: Black Run Swamp, W. of 

 Fairport (OSM 420.1); W. end of Mentor Marsh, Mentor Twp. (TZS 542). 

 Lorain County: Lorain (OC). Lucas County: (OSM 201.8-.10); Bono (TZS 

 1094); Crane Creek on Ottawa Co. boundary; Holland; Little Cedar Point. Jeru- 

 salem Twp.; Maumee: Sylvania; Toledo (CSNH 1505; TZS 1903. 2046); Mau- 

 mee River. Toledo; Swan Creek. Toledo; W. Toledo; Trilby. Ottawa County: 

 Bay Point (OSM 328); 4 mi. E of Bono (TZS 312); Camp Perry; Catawba 

 Island; Green Island (TZS 465); Middle Bass Island (SL) ; Oak Harbor; 1 mi. 

 E of Pt. Clinton (DOR); Sandy Beach, Danbury Twp. (OSM 139); Toussaint 

 Creek. Carroll Twp. Sandusky CountY: Mouth of Sandusky River (DOR); Muddy 

 Creek, 6 mi. SW of Port Clinton. WlLLlAMS County: 1 mi. S of Blakesley (TZS 

 364); Mud Lake. Northwest Twp.; Nettle Lake. Northwest Twp. Wood CountY: 

 Maumee River, opposite Toledo. 



Habitat and Habits. — Almost all the Blanding's turtles collected in Ohio 

 were found in shallow water where, most often, they were discovered walking 

 about on the bottom or swimming at the surface. When engaged in the latter 

 activity their bright yellow throats stood out so vividly it sometimes was pos- 

 sible to identify them at a considerable distance. Occasionally they were 

 found buried in mud, either beneath the water or in mud flats near a stream 

 or pond. 



In keeping with their preference for shallow water, Blanding's turtles 

 seldom were seen anywhere except in such places as ditches, bogs, swamps, 

 the marshy environs of lakes and the extensive marshes at the western end of 

 Lake Erie. At least three, however, were collected on rocky islands in Lake 

 Erie. Occasional individuals were seen prowling about on land but it was 

 unusual for one to be more than a hundred yards from the nearest body of 

 water. 



Captives kept in fairly deep tanks did not thrive, even though there were 

 ample places upon which they could climb to rest. In contrast, individuals 

 lived for years in a shallow outdoor pool provided with gently sloping sides 

 all around its perimeter. 



Specimens are fond of sunning themselves, especially in spring. They 

 were observed resting on muskrat houses, on the steep banks of the many 

 dikes and ditches which traverse the lake marshes and also upon the stumps, 

 logs and driftwood scattered about in the water. When disturbed they dove 

 into the water at once and made their way to the bottom where they burrowed 

 into the mud, hid under any shelter or swam rapidly away. 



When seized they withdrew into their shells, hissed sharply and closed the 

 movable lobes of the plastron as tightly as possible. They sometimes remained 

 in this position for a considerable length of time. Usually no amount of 

 teasing would induce them to bite; they made excellent pets and if supplied 

 with plenty of food and the right environment they lived well in captivity. 



Specimens were collected at the same time and in approximately the same 



