228 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



Turtles in a pond nearby. He witnessed the capture of a 

 duckling by a Snapping Turtle on the pond. My son, 

 while collecting around a clear water slough, saw the 

 head of a turtle sticking out among the rubbish. Mistak- 

 ing it for another turtle he reached down. He withdrew 

 his hand almost immediately but not before the turtle had 

 torn quite a triangle into the palm of his hand. The 

 wound gave him considerable trouble for some time. 

 Thirty years ago no one would eat a Snapper, but now 

 it is considered a delicacy and brings a good price on the 

 market. The Snapping Turtle deposits her eggs in holes 

 along the banks of creeks in June, and covers up the holes 

 so nicely that only an expert can discover them. 



Genus macrochelys. 



Head very large, with symmetrically disposed shields above. Orbits 

 looking outward and forward. Alveolar plates very broad, strong 

 pointed projections at the symphysis of the jaws. Carapace with three 

 prominent keels, which persist throughout life. Three scales on each 

 side between the costal and the marginal rows. Tail with three series 

 of tubercles above, interiorly covered with small scales. 



86. Macrochelys lacertina Schweigger. Alligator Snap- 

 ping Turtle. 



Chelonura temminckii, Emysaurus temminckii, Gypochelys lacertina, 

 Macroclemys temminckii, Macroclemmys temminckii, Macroclemys 

 lacertina. 



Description. — Head extremely large, broad behind, tapering rapidly 

 to the acuminate beak and snout. Beak of upper jaw projecting be- 

 yond the lower and strongly hooked, the outline of the cutting edge 

 rising from the point of the beak, then descending to the middle, and 

 again rising to the corner of the mouth. Lower jaw turned up into 

 a strong hook. Head covered with large symmetrical plates. Eyes 

 lateral and widely separated. Neck short, which has, like the chin, 

 many small dermal flaps. Carapace furnished with three prominent 

 keels, which do not vanish with age. Each median scute rises poste- 

 riorly into a knob, which is largest on the hindermost vertebral scute. 

 The lateral keel is located on the upper ends of the costal scutes. Be- 

 tween the lower ends of the anterior three scutes and the marginals 

 are three or four supra marginals. Posterior border of the carapace 

 serrated. The tail is about three-fourths the length of the carapace, 



