THE REPTILES OF OHIO 159 



1904). Fairfield County: Buckeye Lake (WC). Franklin County: (USNM 

 26290); Alum Creek, Weslerville (OSM 254); Columbus (Morse. 1904). HAMILTON 

 County: Harrison (CSNH 1188); mouth of Miami River (OSM 352.!-.2). 

 Hardin County: Near Hepburn (TZS 1730). Henry County: Maumee River, E 

 of Napoleon; Maumee River, near Texas (TZS 1483); Maumee River, 3 mi. W of 

 Texas. Highland County: Little Brush Creek, 2 mi. N of Sinking Spring (TZS 

 574). Huron County: Huron River, near Monroeville (SHS). Jackson County: 

 Small stream near Canter's Cave, Jackson Twp. (TZS 720). Knox County : 

 Brinkhaven (AS). Lake CountY: East branch Chagrin River, Kirtland (CMNH) ; 

 Grand River, 4 mi. E of Painesville (TZS 1441). Lawrence County: Pine Creek, 

 Elizabeth Twp. (TZS 421, 506-7, 1749). Logan County: Miami River, near 

 Indian Lake (OSM 428). LoRAiN CoUNTY: Oberlin (OC). LuCAS CoUNTY: Lake 

 Erie at Reno Beach, Jerusalem Twp.; Lake Erie, Yi mi. offshore from mouth of 

 Crane Creek; Maumee River at Maumee (TZS 428-9); Maumee River, Toledo 

 (TZS 1940); Swan Creek, W of Toledo; near Waterville; Swan Creek near White- 

 house. Madison County: London (Morse, 1904). Monroe County: Cranenest 

 Fork, Green Twp. (TZS 1266). Morrow County: Kokosing River, Franklin Twp. 

 (TZS 508). Ottawa County: East Harbor, Catawba Island (TZS 2277). Pike 

 County: Chenoweth Fork, Sunftsh Twp. (TZS 1053); Scioto River, Camp Creek 

 Twp. (OSM 353.6). Washington County: Dam No. 2, Muskingum River, northern 

 outskirts of Marietta (OSM 253.2). WiLLIAMS CoUNTY: I mi. S of Blakesley (TZS 

 361); St. Joseph River, near Blakesley; Edgerfon (USNM 21567-8). WoOD CoUNTY: 

 Grand Rapids (TZS 1968); Grassy Creek, Rossford; Haskins (TZS 595); Maumee 

 River opposite Toledo. 



Habitat and Habits. — The spiny soft-shelled turtle is probably more essen- 

 tially a river turtle than any of the other species in the state. It is true that 

 it was found in smaller streams and in lakes but it is in the larger rivers that 

 it is most abundant. It is equally at home in deep or in shallow water and its 

 excellent swimming abilities make it difficult to catch in either. It seldom 

 leaves the water except to nest and to bask occasionally upon a log or rock 

 inaccessible to the collector. Sometimes specimens crawl out on the steep 

 clay banks of streams where they rest head downward in position to slide into 

 the water on an instant's notice. They can travel rapidly on land and when 

 surprised they make for the water with considerable speed. 



Soft-shelled turtles frequently bury themselves in mud or sand in shallow 

 water. When a specimen is placed on such a bottom it moves its shell rapidly 

 from side to side and in a few moments disappears from sight. When it is 

 covered completely it remains still for a short time but soon thrusts out its 

 head to have a look around. The depth of the water in which it buries itself 

 appears to be gauged by the length of the neck, which is extended upward 

 occasionally to allow the nostrils to reach the surface of the water. Numbers 

 of soft-shelled turtles were collected by carefully inspecting mud and sand bars. 

 Watch was kept for slight swirls or disturbances on the bottom which were 

 caused by a turtle withdrawing its head. Such places were investigated by 

 hand as were any depressions or raised places which appeared at all foreign 

 to the general appearance of the bar. 



Soft-shelled turtles are difficult animals to hold. Their round, flat shells 

 make it hard to get a good grip on them and the strong claws are capable of 

 producing deep scratches if the hands are not kept out of the way. Despite 

 the fleshy lips which more or less conceal the cutting edges of the jaws, the 

 latter are weapons which are to be carefully avoided. 



