Newman, Habits of Tortoises. 145 



of-war over the possession of food. In seizing their food the head 

 darts out rather speedily but the movement could scarcely be 

 termed "snapping." 



The method of nest-making is essentially like that described 

 for Graptemys, but the flasklike enlargement is much less 

 pronounced. This may be due to the much sr^aller number of 

 eggs laid and the consequent economy of space. The nesting 

 season is about the same as for Graptemys and the choice of nest- 

 ing places about the same. They lay only four to eight eggs that 

 are strikingly like those of Graptemys in color, shape and character 

 of shell. In size, however, they are somewhat smaller. 



Like Graptemys, the broods are sometimes belated in hatching, 

 so that a forced hibernation of embryos results. Many just- 

 hatched young were found during the months of May and June. 



Unlike Graptemys, Chrysemys is capable of domestication, 

 feeding greedily after a few days of captivity and remaining 

 active and reasonably contented in an aquarium for years. After 

 some months of confinement my specimens fed from the fingers 

 without any show of alarm. 



I have noticed no marked differences in behavior between young 

 and adult specimens, except that the young tend to be less wary 

 and more timid. 



Summary. — Chrysemys is a bright, intelligent little tortoise, 

 showing, when captured, little of the sullenness displayed by other 

 species thus far studied. They are not so wary or suspicious of 

 danger as Graptemys and in consequence are more easily cap- 

 tured. It is a curious fact that, with an increasing tendency 

 toward a terrestrial- life, the various genera of Emydidae exhibit a 

 decreasing wariness and sullenness in captivity. 



For experimental work Chrysemys is the best form I know, 

 because it is almost perfectly normal in captivity after a lapse of a 

 few weeks. 



^. Aromochelys odor at a (the Musk Tortoise). 



This is the smallest, most sluggish and least intelligent tortoise 

 I have studied, but in many respects the most interesting. 

 Although very decidedly aquatic, preferring the deeper and cooler 

 waters, it by no means refrains from excursions on land. Its 

 general structure — domelike carapace, hinged plastron, small, 

 poorly-webbed feet, etc. — seem to point to a terrestrial ancestry. 



