109 



Avilh a shallow ernarganatiou iu the posterior border. The anterior lobe 

 truueated, not movable on a transverse hinge. Bridge rather narrow, 

 not more than half the width of the hinder lobe of the plastron, rising 

 rather rapidly to the carapace. Plastron of the male concave. Head of 

 moderate size, covered with a hard smooth skin. Snout not at all pro- 

 jecting. Upper jaw notched in front ; the alveolar surface very narrow. 

 Lower jaw with the sheath externally very wide; the tip upturned. 

 Choaure well forward, under the front of the eyes. Legs and feet all 

 covered with scales, those of the front limbs large and overlapping. Feet 

 not large, the claws rather short, the web not extensive. Tail long, that 

 of the male bringing the vent beyond the carapace. 



The general color of the carapace is black. Sometimes there appear to 

 be patches of reddish brown showing through the darker. On each 

 scute there appear from one to a dozen round spots of bright orange, each 

 larger than the pupil. The plastron is red, orange and black, the black 

 generally predominating. The orange usually occupies the center of the 

 plastron and the margin. Head above black, with orange dots. Gen- 

 erally there is a large spot of orange just above the ear. The neck is 

 black, with more or less red mingled therewith. The shoulders are ex- 

 tensively red or orange. The upper surfaces of the limbs are black, with 

 dots of yellow and red ; the lower surfaces red and orange. The tail is 

 black, with red at the base. Length of shell 4 or 5 inches. 



Distribution from New England to North Carolina, west to Indiana. 

 In this State it appears to be found only in the northern portion among 

 the numerous lakes, streams and swamps found there. Dr. G. M. Le- 

 vette first found it in that region, reporting it as occurring "in ditches 

 around Kendallville, and doubtless over the whole region." Two speci- 

 mens were picked up one morning at Lake Maxinkuckee in May, 1891, 

 by members of the Indiana Academy of Science. Taken also at Ro- 

 •chester, Fulton county, by Dr. Vernon Gould ; English Lake (Dr. Baur). 



Habits. — This little turtle is less exclusively aquatic than any of those 

 that have been described, except the snapping-turtle. It seems to de- 

 light in being in the neighborhood of swamps and sluggish streams, and 

 it probably spends the greater part of its time in the water. Neverthe- 

 less it often leaves the water, and it may be picked up while it is making 

 its journeys. It is a very harmless animal, and deserves protection. 

 Holbrook says that it is timid and gentle, and can easily be domesticated. 

 When at freedom they collect in numbers on objects above the water and 

 enjoy the sunshine; but if any fancied enemy is seen approaching they 

 slide off rapidly into the water and soon bury themselves in the mud. 

 Their food is said to consist of tadpoles, lyoung frogs and other weak ani- 

 mals. On land they devour earthworms, crickets and grasshoppers. 



Their eggs are few in number; never, according to Agassiz, exceeding 



