CATALOGUE OF VERTEBRATES. 639 



buted throughout the State. The creeks of the central counties 

 generally contain them, associated with the more common species." 



M. palustris, Gmel. Terrapin. Salt-marsh Turtle. Diamond-back. 



Sheath of jaws straight ; concentric dark stripes on plates of 

 both carapace and plastron ; color greenish to dark olive. 



" The eagerness with which this species is sought, in conse- 

 quence of the value set upon it as an article of food, has tended 

 to render them scarce. The sea-board counties of the State now 

 furnish but few in comparison with twenty years ago (1868)." 



PSEUDEMYS. Gray. 

 P. rugosa, Shaw {Ptychemys, Ag.) Red-bellied Terrapin. 



Jaws serrated ; neck with yellow stripes ; plastron red or 

 partly yellow ; marginal plates of carapace with much red ; gen- 

 eral color above dusky, with red markings. 



" Not an abundant species. This and M. geographicus have 

 no apparent peculiarities in habits from the tribe to which they 

 belong." 



P. hieroglyphica, Holbr. [Trachemys, Ag.) Hieroglyphic Turtle. 



Jaws not serrated ; olive brown, with broad, reticulated, yellow 

 lines ; head small. Habitat — Eastern United States. It is 

 desirable to obtain information about this turtle, which may be 

 mistaken for preceding. 



Family CIXOST£RNIDiE. 



Stink-pots. 



CINOSTERNUM, Wagl. 



O. pennsylvanicum, Bosc. {Thrynosternum, Ag.) Small Box, or Mud 

 Turtle. 



Anterior lobes of plastron nearly equal, and both capable of 

 closing the shell ; the posterior one emarginate ; carapace high- 

 est posterior to center ; dusky brown ; light stripes and yellow 

 dots on head and neck. Length, 4 inches. 



" This species, notwithstanding its specific name, is not an 

 abundant one in New Jersey. More common in the central and 

 southern than northern counties." 



