152 



Geological Museum, said to have come from Arkansas, is 9 inches wide 

 and as many long. The length from the snout to the occipital condyle is 

 7^ inches. 



Its range is from western Georgia to Texas and north to Indiana. It 

 laas been taken in the Wabash River, at Grayville, 111., as Mr. Robert 

 Ridgway, of the National Museum, informs me. The specimen captured 

 there was exhibited at county fairs, and was so strong that it could easily 

 \va\k about with a large man on its back. Dr. Yarrow ( 10, 30) reports 

 two specimens of this species in the National Museum, from Northville, 

 Mich., but an examination of the records at the Museum shows that the 

 specimens sent from that place were not of this tortoise, but of Necturus. 



Habits. — This is one of the most remarkable turtles occurring within 

 our limits, if not within the United States. It is rare in collections, and 

 persons living along the lower Wabash ought to secure all the specimens 

 possible. It may at all times be distinguished from the common Snap- 

 ping-turtle by the three extra plates above those marginals which are 

 placed just above the bridge. Its great head and its rapidly descending 

 snout are also good marks. It is an exceedingly strong and fierce- turtle, 

 and a large one would be hard to manage. Mr. True states that he has 

 known a specimen of perhaps forty pounds to bite the handle of a broom 

 quite in two when enraged. They live principally on fish, but will no 

 doubt devour almost any animal that may be so unfortunate as to come 

 within range of their powerful jaws. One is mentioned (4, i, 415) as 

 catching a bass about fourteen inches long and holding it down on a rock 

 with his fore feet and greedily eating it. The breeding habits are not 

 well understood. Agassiz figures the egg. It is spherical and an inch 

 and three-eighths in diameter. 



Family IX. KINOSTERNID^. 



Body rather narrow and high. The greatest height behind the middle, 

 beyond which the outline descends rapidly. Marginal plates 23. Plas- 

 tron moderately to well developed ; formed of 8 bones, the entoplastron 

 being absent. Plastral scutes 10 or 11 ; the gulars present and united or 

 absent ; the pectorals not meeting the marginals ; abdominals cut off 

 from marginals by two small plates on the bridge. Head large ; jaws 

 strong; snout projecting. Digits moderately developed and webbed. 

 Five fingers and four toes with claws. Eggs elliptical. 



Plastron narrow, its hinder lobe not more than one-half the width of 

 the carapace. Aromochelys, p. 153. 



Plastron wider, its hinder lobe considerably wider than one-half the 

 carapace. Kinosternon, p. 154. 



