TURTLES AND TORTOISES 57 



ing for them with the regulation hook and line. In the 

 North, soft-shell turtles are a real annoyance to one 

 fishing in fresh-water. The reptile takes the bait with 

 a jerk that throws the fisherman into a state of consid- 

 erable excitement, only to find, after cautiously working 

 his catch to the surface, the anticipated prize is a very 

 angry turtle with much vigor in clawing and snapping 

 at the sportsman's fingers. And the activity of a speci- 

 men is surprising. The head darts with a speed equal 

 to the serpent's thrust. These movements in biting have 

 been responsible for another common name — the snap- 

 ping turtles ; that name, however, rightly belongs to the 

 big-headed members of the Chelydridce. While a soft- 

 shelled turtle is essentially a water animal, seldom com- 

 ing on shore to deposit its brittle, perfectly round eggs, 

 it is capable of rapid locomotion on land, though its 

 actions are amusing. For an instant, when taken from 

 the water, it may retract the head and limbs, when the 

 leathery shell settles down about it; then the sharp snout 

 is poked abruptly out and, without warning, the animal 

 scrambles off, on a veritable run, thumping and bruising 

 the soft plastron as the feet frequently lose their hold 

 during the hysterical race from danger. To pick the 

 turtle up without receiving either a bite or a scratch is 

 not an easy matter, as the reptile will throw its ser- 

 pentine neck backward so that the head snaps at a point 

 near the center of the shell; at the same time the feet, 

 with their sharp claws, kick and frantically tear at the 

 hand of the tormentor. Placed in the water the animal 

 disappears with a lively exhibition of paddling, the 

 broadly palmated feet working alternately and sending 

 it flying to the bottom. If deep water is not accessible, 

 it grovels in the mud with such energy that a protective 

 cloud hides it from view. When this clears away no 



