smith] breeding habits of yellow-bellied terrapin 253 



sand, clay, or loam, a sandy loam or sandy clay being most fre- 

 quently chosen. The nest, which is shaped like a carafe, is dug 

 by the female with her fore-legs. Its size depends on the size of 

 the animal or, what amounts to the same thing, on the number of 

 eggs to be laid ; an average nest would be four inches deep and 

 four inches wide at the bottom, the opening being somewhat 

 smaller than a silver dollar. When on the shore, the nest is always 

 above high-water mark. 



All the eggs are laid at one time, and when the laying is com- 

 pleted, earth is scraped into and over the hole and packed tightly. 

 The packing is accomplished by the terrapin raising herself as high 

 as possible on all four legs and then dropping heavily, by the 

 sudden relaxation of the extensor muscles. Immediately after 

 covering the nest, the terrapin withdraws to the water. 



The size of the eggs varies somewhat with the size of the 

 terrapin, but averages one inch by three-fourths of an inch. A 

 six-inch terrapin lays ten or twelve eggs, while the largest terrapins, 

 fourteen or sixteen inches long, lay as many as twenty-five to thirty- 

 five eggs, possibly more. When a terrapin is disturbed while 

 making a nest or laying, she will abandon the nest. On one oc- 

 casion, when a terrapin was discovered over a nest in a cornfield, 

 removed to see whether any eggs had been deposited, and replaced 

 over the hole in the ground, it was found when the place was visited 

 two hours later that she had left without laying any eggs. The 

 eggs probably hatch during the summer, but on this point there 

 have been no personal observations. The young, however, remain 

 in the nest until the following spring (April 10 in one case), and 

 when they emerge they are about the size of a twenty-five-cent piece. 

 They go to the water at once. 



Considerable quantities of terrapin eggs were formerly eaten by 

 people living on the river shores, but of late very few eggs have 

 been thus utilized. When boiled, the eggs are regarded as a 

 delicacy. Birds (especially crows) and other animals doubtless 

 destroy some eggs. On one occasion a terrapin was observed over 

 a nest on the shore, and a crow noticed on a dead tree near by. 

 When the terrapin covered the eggs, concealed the nest, and with- 

 drew to the water, the crow immediately dropped to the ground 

 and began to dig into the nest. Before the observer, who was in 

 a boat, could reach the shore, the crow had destroyed at least two 

 of the eggs, seven others remaining. 



The male yellow-bellied terrapin is smaller than the female ; his 

 claws are twice as long as hers, and the under-shell is flat, while 

 in the female it bulges centrally. 



