THE REPTILES OF OHIO 141 



nearly a week. The navels of all were soft and a portion of the cord was 

 attached. Average measurements at hatching were: carapace length ly^ 

 in., carapace width 1 "^j^o in., plastron length 1 ^l^o i*^-» depth % in. 



The eggs in the other nests failed to hatch and on June 24, 1935, they 

 were removed for examination. In each case the eggs still retained their nor- 

 mal shape but each had a hole in its shell and the interior was decayed and 

 partially filled with earth. In two the skulls and other bones of well-developed 

 embryos were found. One nest contained 4 eggs and the other 7. In each 

 case, including the nest from which the four young emerged, the bottom of 

 the nest was nearly three inches below the surface of the ground. 



Allard (1935) gives the number of eggs laid in a single nest as from 2 

 to 7, average 4.2. The largest eggs he measured were 37 x 22; 38 x 22 and 

 36 X 21 mm. and the smallest (laid with four larger ones) measured 16 x 13 

 mm. His observations on 60 clutches of eggs showed the earliest date of 

 laying to be June 4 (1933) and the latest July 13 (1932). The incubation 

 period under natural conditions varied from 69 to 105 days. 



Box turtles attain a considerable age. A large specimen collected by M. 

 K. Murphy, of Toledo, in Indiana in 1907, lived in captivity until the spring 

 of 1931 and during this period it did not appear to grow in size. There are 

 other records in which turtles were marked and then were recovered a num- 

 ber of years later. Finds of turtles with ancient dates upon their shells are 

 frequently reported in the newspapers but it would appear well to discount all 

 such unless the specimens can be accurately identified. The writer recalls 

 having caught a turtle when he was a boy upon which he carved his initials 

 and the date 1492! 



Graptemys geographica (Le Sueur) 

 Map Turtle 



Description. — A medium to large turtle attaining a carapace length of ten 

 inches or more. Adult females considerably larger than adult males. Larg- 

 est Ohio female had a shell 81/4 inches in length; largest male 4% inches; 

 smallest juvenile 1% inches. Ditmars (1936, 408) records a female specimen 

 from Sandusky 91/2 inches in length. Carapace rigid and covered with horny 

 plates; subovate, bluntly notched at the front and serrate at the rear margin. 

 A distinct median keel, most evident and somewhat tuberculate in the young. 

 Highest part of shell from 46.6% to 54.2% (males average 51.4%; females 

 48.4%) of the distance back from the anterior edge; juveniles average 38.7%. 

 Scutes smooth or with growth rings. Nuchal wedge-shaped and notched be- 

 hind; other scutes normal. An outward flare may or may not be present in 

 the region of the legs. 



Plastron large and immovably fastened to the carapace. Plastron twice as 

 long as wide, omitting the lateral portions of the pectorals and abdominals 

 which are directed upward at an obtuse angle. Head large and swollen in 

 adult females, considerably smaller in males. Tail short. Skin covered with 

 small scales. Feet well webbed. 



