CONTENTS 



Acknowledgments ....... vii 



Pui'FACE ..... ix 



Introduction .... . . . xi 



PART I: THE TURTLES AND TORTOISES 

 Order CHELONIA 



CHAPTER PAGE 



I. Classification of the North American Turtles 



AND Tortoises ...... 3 



II. The Sea Turtles; Families Sphargidce and ChelonidcB 

 Largest of the Chelonians. These Strictly Aquatic 

 Reptiles May be Recognised by their Seal-hke 

 FUppers . . . . . .4 



III. The Snapping Turtles; Family Chelydridce 



A Small Family, Composed of Three Large and 



Powerful Species . . . .11 



IV. The Musk or Mud Turtles; Family Cinostcrnidce 

 The Genera Aromochelys and Cinosternum, Com- 

 posed of Small and Thoroughly Aquatic Species, 



the Majority Inhabiting North America . 17 



V. The Terrapins; The Genera Chrysemys, Malaco- 

 clemmys, and Chelopus. Family TesiiidinidoE. 

 A Group of Aquatic Chelonians Known Commonly 

 as Pond Turtles and River Turtles. Thev are 

 Characterised by their Broad, Flat Shell. 

 Most of the Species are Edible ... 28 

 VI. The Box Turtles; Genera Emys and Cisiudo 



Turtles with Divided, Hinged Plastrons — Descriptions 



of the Species — Their Habits .... 54 

 VII. The Tortoises; Genus Tesiudo 



Strictly Terrestrial Chelonians. Represented in North 



America by Three Species .... 65 



XV 



