TURTLES AND TORTOISES 29 



on the shells of those having secured favorite spots. 

 Thus the little colony takes a bath in the life-giving sun, 

 with limbs sprawled out in comical fashion and ever- 

 attentive eyes on the lookout for danger. Ludicrous re- 

 sults follow the approach of the human observer, as 

 there is a panicky scramble for the water, a series of 

 splashes, then a desolate log without sign of life. 



Unlike the two preceding species the Spotted Turtle 

 does not seem to be able to eat while out of the water, so 

 its habits are strictly in accord with the typical fresh- 

 water turtles and terrapins. Similar in its habits is 

 the Californian species, C. marmoratus ; the carapace is 

 blackish, decorated with numerous yellow specks or 

 radiating lines ; there is a decided similarity in the mark- 

 ings of some specimens to the European Pond Turtle, 

 Emys orbicularis. 



As we consider the genus Emys we have advanced 

 another step nearer the terrestrial chelonians: for the 

 present species feed while out of the water and are quite 

 at home on land — but they never leave damp places and 

 their feet are sufficiently webbed to make them agile 

 swimmers. Two species are known. Strange to ex- 

 plain, they are remarkably alike in structure and colora- 

 tion, yet one inhabits the New World while the habitat 

 of the other is across the seas — in Europe and Africa. 



Here we must note a peculiar structure of the under 

 shell — the plastron, which is attached to the upper shell 

 by elastic cartilage and divided near the center by a 

 cartilaginous hinge; thus the lobes are movable. The 

 structure shows a near relationship with the true box 

 turtles, of Cistudo — the succeeding genus. However, 

 the ability to close the lobes against the carapace is not 

 nearly so well developed as with Cistudo. In fact, it 

 principally involves the anterior lobe. Hence the origin 



