448 LOWER VERTEBRATES. 



Preudemys rugosa, the potter or red-bellied terrapin, is an animal of very limited 

 geographical distribution, being found only east of the Appalachian Mountains, and from 

 New Jersey to Virginia. It is, however, quite abundantly found within these limits, 

 and is often captured for market in the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers, though 

 its flesh is not held in great esteem. The length of the shell seldom exceeds eleven 

 inches. The color above is dark slate, with reddish blotches, while below it is of an 

 intense red, ornamented with yellow. The jaws are prominently toothed. P. coiv- 

 cinna and mobiliensis are allied forms, inhabiting the more rocky rivers of the south, but 

 are of limited distribution. 



P. hiero(/li/phica,has been so named from the hieroglyphic-like markings along the 

 margin of the carapax. It sometimes i-eaches a foot in length, and inhabits the mid- 

 dle, western and gulf states. The yellow-bellied terrapin, P. scabirt, is of about the 

 same size, though a much less elegant animal, the shell being carinate and deeply 

 serrated posteriorly. It inhabits the warm shallow brooks of fresh water of the south- 

 ern states, south of the habitat of P. rugosa. Specimens are often seen in groups of 

 a dozen or more, collected on some half-submerged log, and, though apparently half 

 asleep in the sun's rays, on the slightest appearance of danger they drop off into the 

 water, the only evidences of their presence being in the carefully protruded snouts 

 these appearing at different points over the surface of the water. Though wary and 

 suspicious, they are, nevertheless, captured in large numbers and sent to market, where 

 they masquerade under the name of ' terrapin.' When in their native element, their 

 diet is chiefly carnivorous, though in confinement they soon accustom themselves to 

 vegetables, of which they seem to become very fond. P. troostii is a very abundant 

 form, inhabiting the valley of the Mississippi as far east as Illinois. It was dedicated 

 to Professor Troost, a gentleman who gave no little assistance to Holbrook in the 

 preparation of his work on the American reptiles. 



The most interesting species of Malacodemmys is the salt-water terrapin, M. 

 palustris, inhabiting the marshes along the Atlantic coast, from Massachusetts to Texas, 

 and even to South America. About Charleston they are very abundant and are cap- 

 tured in large numbers for market, esiDCcially is this the case at the breeding season, 

 when the females are full of eggs. Further north they are dug from the salt mud 

 early in their hibernation, and are greatly esteemed, being fat and savory. In the 

 water the terrapin is an active animal, comparatively seldom captured, being always on 

 the lookout and extremely wary. On land it is a good traveler and quite able to 

 escape from any ordinary enemy. In the market it can be distinguished from the 

 other turtles by its short body and the concentric markings of the dorsal plates. The 

 color above is dark brown and pale grayish green. 31. geographicus, the geographical 

 terrapin, is peculiarly marked and streaked above with narrow reddish lines. It is 

 found in the eastern Mississippi Valley, reaching eastward as far as Pennsylvania and 

 New York. 



Chrysemys is characterized by having a deep notch at the anterior portion of the 

 upper jaw, on each side of which the projecting horny sheath forms two teeth. C. 

 picta, or the painted-turtle, is perhaps the best known of the American Testudinata. 

 Its geographical distribution is extended, the animal being found from the Gulf of 

 Mexico to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and inhabiting nearly every pond, pool, or 

 slow stream. While one is riding in the cars, this species as well as Chelopus guttattis 

 are seen by myriads, the two clans seldom mixing, crowded together on some project- 

 ing rock or half submerged log, their necks stretched out to the utmost, and to all ap- 



