
TERRARIA AND AQUA-TERRARIA 

curved nails. The tail is short, thick at the base and suddenly pointed. 
The color of the carapace is dusky brown with irregular red markings on 
and around the plates, the plastron red, clouded with a dusky shade. The 
head and neck are dark brown above with obscured red lines, and the legs 
and tail dusky brown and black, also marked with red. Length of cara- 
pace 11 in., breadth 7 in., elevation 434 in. Found in brackish and fresh- 
water from New Jersey to Virginia. Under the name of “Slider,” it is 
largely used as a substitute for the Diamond-back Terrapin. Another 
form of the same genus, P. ¢roosti (Hol.), or Yellow-bellied Terrapin, of 
the Mississippi Valley, does not occur in the Eastern or Middle States, 
but may be sometimes found in the markets, as it is also used as food. 
Sea Turtles. These Turtles are all of very large size and are occa- 
sionally taken in the more northern latitudes, coming in the Gulf Stream 
from the South. They are Dermochelys coriacea (Vand.) or Leather-Tur- 
tle, one of the largest Sea Turtles, reaching a length of 6 to 8 feet and a 
weight of 1200 pounds; T'halassochelys caretta (Linn.), or Logger-head 
Turtle, 3 to 6 feet in length and weighing 350 to 450 pounds; Eretmochelys 
imbricata (Linn.), or Hawks-bill Turtle, the carapace of which is the 
valued turtle-shell of commerce; and Chelonia mydas (Linn.), or Green 
Turtle, valued as food, with a carapace of 3 to 4 feet and a weight of 850 
pounds. These may occasionally be seen in the larger public aquaria. 
FEEDING IN THE TERRARIUM. A variety of food is necessary for 
the requirements of reptiles and amphibia. Frogs, Toads and Tree Toads 
require insects, worms, grubs, particles of meat and fish; Salamanders and 
Newts, snails, minced mussels or oysters, meat, fish and fish eggs; Lizards 
and Snakes, insects, worms, grubs and small live animals; Alligators and 
Snapping Turtles, tadpoles, crayfish, minnows, other small animals, and 
worms and grubs, and when these cannot be obtained, minced fish, oysters, 
meat, etc.; and Land Turtles should also receive snails, mussels, insects 
and garden vegetables, lettuce, celery, tomato, berries and mushrooms. 
Feeding should be carefully done and anything not eaten should 
be removed before it decays. 
