TURTLES, TERRAPINS, AND TORTOISES 25 



five inches, imported specimens rarely measure more than 

 two, and, Hke most quite young terrapins, seldom thrive 

 for any considerable time under captive conditions. 



The Sculptured Terrapin, CI. insculpta, and the 

 Speckled Terrapin, CI. guttata, are two common North 

 American species. The carapace of both is blackish, that 

 of the former with radiating lines, the latter with numerous 

 perfectly round yellow spots. They are both much more 

 terrestrial in their habits than the European species, 

 wandering many miles from the water, and during the 

 period of spring fires large numbers are burned in the 

 woods. CI. insculpta is herbivorous, feeding mainly on 

 sorrel and berries, while CI. guttata is mainly insectivorous. 



In Cistudo, the representatives of which are the true 

 Box Tortoises, the plastron is connected with the carapace 

 simply by ligament, and is divided into two movable 

 lobes, enabling the creature, after withdrawing its head, 

 neck, limbs, and tail into the shell, to close it hermetically 

 like a box. The digits are almost entirely free, being 

 provided, at most, with only a very short web. 



The Common Box Tortoise, Cistudo Carolina, is found 

 in the United States and Mexico. The shell is very con- 

 vex and nearly round in shape. The tail is quite short. 

 The head is small, and the upper jaw is strongly, the lower 

 jaw feebly, hooked. The variation in colour is very great, 

 no two specimens being quite alike. The most normal 

 coloration of the shell is yellow, with dark brown mark- 

 ings, disposed without any symmetry. The plastron 

 also varies considerably ; it is usually yellow with black 

 or brown blotches. The Box Tortoise, although closely 

 related to the aquatic forms by the structure of its feet. 



