168 



Habits. — The mode of life of the Map Turtle is as thoroughly aquatic 

 as that of its relative, 31. pseudogeographica. It probably never, unless 

 compelled to do so, leaves the immediate vicinity of its native stream. 

 Holbrook states that it is bolder and more active than most other turtles, 

 those that he had seen approaching even the snapping turtles in their dis- 

 position to bite when disturbed. The food of this species consists of an- 

 imals of various kinds. Prof. Harry Garman (4^, xxii, 70) states that 

 an examination of the contents of the alimentary canal showed that the 

 food consisted exclusively of mollusks, the young eating the thinner 

 shelled species, the adults the larger and thicker shelled kinds. At 

 Lake Maxinkuckee three persons caught about 30 specimens of this 

 species in a few hours. Without probably an exception they were found 

 near the shores, where there were great numbers of the water-breathing 

 univalves. After a number had been kept for a few days in a tub there 

 were found in it large numbers of the opercles of such mollusks ; and in 

 the intestines of one were the remains of a crayfish, some fish scales, 

 and what appeared to be the cases of some kind of caddis-worm. Its 

 broad masticatory surfaces are well fitted for crushing the shells of mol- 

 lusks. 



The eggs of this species, as figured by Agassiz, appear to be somewhat 

 smaller than those of LeSueur's tortoises. I have found 16 eggs in a 

 large female. DeKay states that the flesh of this tortoise is good for food. 

 Where they are abundant they might be turned to good account. 



Genus CLEMMYS, Wagler. 



Clemmys, A^agler, 1830, 75, 136 ; Boulenger, 1889, 84, 100 ; Nanemys, 

 Calemys, Glyptemys, etc. ; Agassiz, 1857, 4y h "^^'^ seq. 



Shell moderately to strongly depressed. Bridge wide, with strong axil- 

 lary and inguinal processes of the plastron just reaching the 1st and 5th 

 costal plates. Entoplastron crossed by the suture between the humerals 

 and the pectorals. Alveolar surfaces of the jaws narrow and without a 

 median ridge. Choanse toward the front of the eyes. Skull with a bony 

 temporal arch. Digits more or less extensively webbed. 



Clemmys guttata, (Schneider). 

 Speckled Tortoise. 



Testudo guttata, Schneider, 1792, 120, x, 264 ; Emys guttata, Holbrook,- 

 1842, 54, i, 81, pi. 11 ; Najiemys guttata, Agassiz, 1857, 4, h 442, pi. i, 

 figs. 7-9 ; Oielopus guttatus. Cope, 1875, 12, 53 ; Clemmys guttata, Bou- 

 lenger, 1889, 84, 109. 



Shell oval, widest behind, rather depressed, no traces of keel in the 

 adult, little trace even in the young. Nuchal scute very narrow. Plas- 

 tron large ; the hinder lobe about three-fourths the width of the carapace, 



