536 Home Nature-Study Course. 



(a) The Snapping Turtle. This sometimes attains a shell 14 inches long and 

 a weight of 40 pounds. This is a vicious creature and can inflict a very severe 

 wound with its sharp, hooked mandibles. It will, by stretching its long neck, strike 

 like a snake with lightning rapidity and is a dangerous creature to handle; it 

 should not be used for a nature-study lesson unless the specimen is very young. 



(b) We have two true Mud Turtles, the Musk Turtle and the Common Mud 

 Turtle; they both inhabit slow running streams and ponds and are truly aquatic, 

 never coming to the shore except to deposit their eggs. They cannot eat unless 

 under water and seek their food in the muddy bottoms of str'eams and ponds. 

 They may be distinguished by the following characteristics : The upper shells of 

 both are brown. The Musk Turtle when handled emits a very strong odor, and it 

 has on each side of the head two bright yellow stripes, which extend from the tip 

 of the snout to the neck. The Mud Turtle does not emit the strong odor, and its 

 head is ornamented with greenish-yellow spots. 



THE TERRAPINS. 



These turtles are partially aquatic and spend much of their time on logs or 

 other objects projecting from the water and always take to the water to escape 

 attack. 



(c) The Painted Terrapin or Pond Turtle. This can always be determined 

 by the red mottled border of its shell. Its shell rarely reaches a size beyond 6^ 

 inches. This turtle makes a good pet if kept in an aquarium by itself, but will 

 destroy any other creature kept with it. Its aquarium should be provided with a 

 stick or a stone projecting above the water so that it can climb out if it chooses. 

 It will eat beef or chopped fish and is fond of earth worms and soft insects. 



(d) The Spotted Turtle. This has the upper shell black with numerous 

 round, yellow spots upon it. It is common about ponds and marshy streams and 

 is a sociable creature, being often found with several of its fellows on a log, from 

 which it dives for safety when disturbed. This species always feeds under water 

 eating insect larvae, dead fish, and probably vegetation. In captivity it will eagerly 

 eat fresh lettuce. 



(e) Muhlenberg's Turtle. This is found along the Hudson and its southern 

 tributaries. Its upper shell is about four inches long and is not decorated with 

 yellow spots. The head is black with a large patch of brilliant orange-yellow on 

 either temple. It is not so aquatic as the Spotted Turtle but like it walks about in 

 the marshes. It feeds out of water, eating tender green leaves, insects and earth 

 worms. In captivity it will eat chopped meat, lettuce and berries. 



(f) The Wood Terrapin. This is our most common turtle found in damp 

 woods and wet places ; it lives largely upon the land. Its upper shell often reaches 

 the length of 6>^ inches and is made up of many plates or shields ornamented with 

 concentric ridges. This is the turtle upon whose shell people carve initials and 

 dates and then set it free. All the fleshy parts of this turtle, except the top of the 

 head and the limbs, are brick red. It can swim but prefers to live on land. It 

 feeds on tender vegetables, berries and insects. It makes an interesting pet and 

 will soon learn to eat from the fingers of its keeper. It may be fed berries, lettuce, 

 chopped meat, fish and beetle larvae. 



(g) Tlie Box Turtle. This is easily distinguished from the others because 

 the front and rear portions of the lower shell are hinged so that they can be pulled 

 up against the upper shell. When the turtle is attacked it withdraws into the shell 

 and closes both the front and the back door, and there it is in its box safe from 

 all enemies. This turtle lives entirely upon land and feeds upon berries, tender 



