186 



There is, however, now so much doubt concerning it that I give it as 

 merely one of the possibilities and leave it to the future to settle. 



C. picta is a close relative of niargiyiata, so close that some authors regard 

 the latter as only a variety of the former. Picta differs from marginata prin- 

 cipally in the arrangement of the vertebral and costal scutes, these being 

 so disposed that the sutures between the costals meet the corresponding 

 sutures between the vertebrals. Hence the scutes form four straight rows 

 right across the back, an unusual thing among turtles. The red or yel- 

 low margin of the front of the scutes is also much wider than in marginata, 

 and they produce conspicuous colored bands across the shell. In the col- 

 lection of the National Museum I have seen a specimen with the plates 

 somewhat intermediate in arrangement; nevertheless I believe thatpicte 

 has quite thoroughly and in a remarkable manner freed itself, as a species, 

 from marginata. 



Habits. — The habits of C. picta are similar to those of C. marginata and 

 have been more carefully observed. The reader is referred to Agassiz's 

 "Contributions" for further information. Prof. J. A. Allen says of 

 these turtles, as known to him in Massachusetts: "The shrill, piping 

 notes of this species is frequently heard in May and June, especially 

 during intervals between showers on hot sultry days." 



Chrysemys belli, (Gray). 



Etnys belli, Gray, 1831, 112, 31; Chrysemys belli, Gray, 1855, 25, 33; 

 Agassiz, 1857, 4, h 439, pi. 6, figs. 8-9; Chrysemys cinerea, var. belli, 

 Boulenger, 1889, 84, 74, 



This is another species that has not yet been taken within our limits, but 

 which may nevertheless be an iuhabitant f-.f the State. It occurs from 

 Mississippi to western Illinois, thence northwestward to British Colum- 

 bia. It has been taken in western Illinois by Agassiz, and more recently 

 by Prof Harry Garman, and it appears to be very common in the sloughs 

 of the ' ' bottom land " about Quincy. It should be looked for in the 

 lower Wabash. 



The arrangement of the scutes of the carapace is the same as in G. mar- 

 ginata. The ground-color is copper-red or bronze-color. Across the costal 

 scutes there are some irregular red or yellow bands and some red dots. 

 The marginals are divided above by a yellow streak, while on their lower 

 surface there are black, eyelike spots on a red ground. The plastron is 

 covered all over with blackish markings of various shapes The size be- 

 comes greater than that of either picta or marginata, some 8 inches as the 

 length of the shell. 



