The Terrapins 



specimen voraciously eating a small "fiddler" crab. As the 

 jaws are very powerful they have no trouble in crushing the 

 shells of such creatures. Judging from the tendency of captive 

 specimens to nibble at lettuce leaves that are thrown into their 

 tank, wild individuals undoubtedly feed in part upon the various 

 species of sea-weed. Like the other terrapin the species always 

 takes its food under water. 



Owing to the very broad, extensively webbed hind feet 

 this turtle is perfectly at home in the water and has a habit of 

 floating with just the tip of its snout above the surface, the 

 shell being kept in a perpendicular position by a slow, treading 

 motion of the hind feet. 



Although this species ranges well into the North, it is more 

 abundant and attains a larger size in warmer waters. It occurs 

 most commonly in those numerous indentations of the Atlantic 

 coast from the Chesapeake, to Savannah, Georgia. Its great 

 favour as an article of diet threatens its ultimate extinction. 



The Genus Chelopus: The small species of this genus are 

 fairly aquatic, though not to such an extent as the larger terrapin. 

 One species evinces a decided inclination toward terrestrial 

 habits, though it is seldom found away from damp areas. Three 

 of the species inhabit the Eastern states and one, the Pacific 

 Region. 



The Wood Terrapin, C. insculptus, is the largest species, 

 attaining a length of about eight inches. The Western Pond 

 Turtle, C. marmoraius, is but slightly smaller. The remaining 

 two species grow to a maximum size of about four inches — in 

 length of shell. The feet of these turtles are not extensively 

 webbed. 



The characters of the four species may be thus outlined: 



a. Shell quite smooth; not serrated in rear. 



Carapace black, with scattered, round, yellow spots. 

 Head black, with small yellow blotches. 



SPOTTED TURTLE, C. gUttatUS. 



Distribution. — Eastern States. 

 Carapace black or brown, each shield with a dull, 

 reddish blotch. A large, orange blotch on each side 

 of head. Muhlenberg's turtle, C. nmhlenbergii. 



Distribution. — New York, New Jersey, and Pennsyl- 

 vania. 



49 



