xiv PREFACE. 



lor, Prof. I. D. Lindsley, and interesting notices from Dr. Samuel Cunningham. From 

 North Carolina, from Dr. J. H. Gibbon, Mr. S. T. Thayer, Dr. C. L. Hunter, Mr. W. 

 C. Kerr, and Professor Baird. Mr. Henry Harrisse has lately sent me the drawing of a 

 very remarkable young specimen of Ptychemys concinna with two distinct heads. 



Dr. Edward Holbrook, by his extensive works upon the subject, has rendered South 

 Carolina classic ground for Herpetology ; and to him I am indebted for the largest supplies 

 of the species found in that State. I have also received a variety of specimens from Dr. 

 W. R. Gibbs, of Columbia, and from Mr. Barnwell, of Beaufort. From Georgia, I have re- 

 ceived invaluable contributions. Dr. W. C. Daniell and Col. A. S. Jones have caused 

 specimens to be collected for me all over the State, while Prof. LeConte, of Athens ; 

 Dr. Wm. Gesner, of Columbus ; Prof. N. A. Pratt, Jr., and Mr. B. I. King, of Roswell ; 

 Mr. Alex. Gerhardt, of Whitfield County; and Mr. R. H. Gardiner, have sent me large 

 numbers of specimens from their respective districts. The species of Alabama have also 

 been furnished to me in large numbers by Dr. J. C. Nott, Col. Deas, and Mr. Albert 

 Stein, of Mobile ; by Mr. Thos. M. Peters, of Moulton ; and by Mr. Th. P. Hatch, of Flor- 

 ence. From Florida, I have received interesting specimens from Dr. L. M. Jeffries, of Pen- 

 sacola ; from Mr. F. Eppes, of Tallahassee ; from Mr. Theodore Lyman, of Boston ; and from 

 Mr. F. W. Putnam, of Salem. Numerous as these invoices were, I have received yet more 

 extensive collections from Mississippi and Louisiana, through the kindness of the Rev. Dr. 

 Tho. S. Savage, of Pass Christian ; Mr. W. Sargent, Prof. B. S. C. Wailes, and Ben- 

 jamin Chase, of Natchez ; Dr. L. Harj^er, of Oxford ; and Prof. R. H. Chilton, Dr. N. B. 

 Benedict, Dr. B. Dowler, and Mr. T. C. Copes, of New Orleans. 



From Texas, and the adjoining parts of Mexico, I have examined the rich collections 

 made under the direction of Col. Emory during the boundary survey, and those secured 

 by the Smithsonian Institution from the late Mr. Berlandier. To the Rev. Edward Fon- 

 taine, of Austin, I am indebted for valuable information respecting the habits of the large 

 Snapping Turtle of the South-western States ; and to Dr. C. B. Kennerley and Mr. George 

 Stolley, of Williamson County, for numerous specimens. Mr. C. J. Hering, of Surinam, 

 has provided me with ample means to compare the species of the northern parts of South 

 America with those of the United States and of Mexico. From California and the Gala- 

 pagos Islands I have also received extensive collections, especially from California, through 

 the kindness of Messrs. Thomas G. Gary, Jr. and A. F. Branda, of San Francisco, who 

 have sent me beautiful scries of specimens of the only fresh-water Turtle found on the west- 

 ern slope of the continent of North America, and also specimens of the Sea Turtles of 

 the Pacific coast. I am indebted to Mr. Charles Pickering for notices respecting the Tur- 

 tles of Oregon ; and to Mr. Patrick H. Frey, of New York, for a living specimen of the 

 large Galapago Turtle. 



The notices respecting the mode of life and the distribution of oar Turtles which were 



