Reptiles and Amphihi'ins of Illinois. 245 



Nippersink Lake, Cook Co. (Keunicott); Gresn River, at 

 Geneseo; Quincy; Peoria; Havana; Normal; Champaign; Union 

 Co.; Mt Carmei (Nat. Mus.). 



This is one of our largest reptiles. It is extremely pug- 

 nacious and is to be handled carefully on account of the readi- 

 ness with which it uses its sharp and powerful jaws. A bite 

 from one of the larger examples would probably amputate a 

 finger, at any rate do serious harm. Their food consists of all 

 manner of small animals, such as fishes, frogs, reptiles, and 

 young water birds. They are reported to have an especial 

 fondness for young ducks. The eggs are deposited in holes 

 dug in the sand along the banks of creeks, in June and July. 

 The flesh is esteemed by many as a luxury, and the fishermen 

 along the Illinois River find ready sale for those captured in 

 their nets. The carapace in young turtles is much rougher 

 than in adults, in consequence of the greater prominence of 

 the radiating carinse of the plates. ^ 



Young just from the egg are about 8.0O inches long, with ^ 

 very rough shell. The snout is provided with a small, horny, 

 pointed cap, with which the shell of the egg is broken. Young 

 kept in an aquarium had an amusing way of burying them- 

 , selves in the sand, leaving only the tip of their snout exposed; 

 when fall came on they buried themselves completely for hi- 

 bernation. The writer has seen a pair of young scarcely less 

 remarkable in their way than the noted Siamese twins. They 

 were attached side by side for the most of their lengths. Both, 

 as far as could be seen, were perfectly developed, and both 

 were alive. The largei* turtle was quite as strong as other 

 turtles of the same age; the other was less strong, but its hold 

 on life was not apparently feeble. 



Family TRIONYOHID^. 



Body flattened; shell covered with a continuous skin, gen- 

 erally cartilaginous at the margins. Head slender, covered 

 with soft skin; nostrils opening at the end of a fleshy probos- 

 cis; horny coverings of jaws concealed at the sides by fleshy 

 lips. Digits 5-5, with large webs, first three with claws, the 

 fourth and fifth clawless and concealed in the webs. Aquatic. 



