Animals of the Mississippi Bottoms near Quincij. 133 



Pseiidemys elegans, Wied. 

 Frequent in sloughs. 



Pseudemys troostii, Holbrook, 



Rare. Three examples from Moss lake, on Long Island, in 

 the river. A strong, irritable species. 



Mud Turtle {Malacoclemmys lesueuri, Gray). 



Equally common with the next species and much like it 

 in habit. The two are not discriminated by river men, and are 

 known to them as mud turtles. Observed in most of the 

 sloughs and in the river and bay. 



Mud Turtle {MalacocUmmys cjeor/i'aphicus, Lesueur). 



This and the preceding species probably constitute more 

 than half of the turtles which one sees on the partly sub- 

 merged trunks of trees and on sunny banks along the river and 

 sloughs. Scores may be seen on bright days sunning them- 

 selves on the edges of the log rafts in the upper part of the 

 bay. They are not used as food, though it is sometimes 

 claimed that the flesh is palatable. 



Alligator Snapper {Macrochelys lacertina^ Schw. ). 



This species is said by fisherman and sportsmen to occur 

 here occasionally. 



Snapping Turtle {Chelydra serpentina^ Linn.). 



Occasional in sloughs and lakes. Those taken were large 

 and very fat. It is prized as food. 



Soft-Shell Turtle {Aspidonectes spinifer, Lesueur). 



Abundant in river and not uncommon in the sloughs. 

 Fishermen sell readily those caught in their seines. 



Soft-Shell Turtle {Amyda mntica, Lesueur). 



Common in the river, but less abundant in sloughs than 

 the preceding. Reaches a length of 8 to 10 inches. It is used 

 as food. 



AMPHIBIANS. 



Amphibians evidently cannot maintain themselves on these 

 bottom-lands. They were very rare; and probably the few 

 seen had made their v/ay in from the higher land within the 



