218 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 
brown. Iris dull slaty. Length 4% inches. Cedar Swamp Creek 
at Petersburg, Cape May County. April 16th, 1906. T. D. 
Keim and H. W. Fowler. 
About Trenton this species is abundant according to Dr. Ab- 
bott. The largest example which came under his notice weighed 
62 pounds. ‘They feed largely upon fish, and at times apparently 
under water. In Cedar Swamp Creek they are reported as 
abundant, and are the object of pursuit to the farmers. Dr. J. 
P. Moore reports that an example was aroused from hibernating 
during the warm spell of January of 1906, and was active, near 
Woodbury. Mr. G. Z. Hartman reports it abundant about 
Palermo, Cape May County, during April of 1906. Abundant 
about Dennisville in Cape May County. During September of 
1906, large ones were observed, I of about 11 pounds weight, 
and the other about 9. They are more highly prized as food by 
the inhabitants than the other species. When fattened in swill 
a short time they soon increase in size, and are then considered 
best. In coloration they seemed to agree with those of our more 
northern districts, though their shells were covered above with 
a good coating of greenish moss. After fattening, the lower 
surface of the body, such as the limbs, tail and neck, assumes a 
more swollen appearance and a pale creamy-white tint. They 
are, however, ever with a vicious or ferocious disposition, snap- 
ping or fiercely biting at anything placed in their way. 
Chelonura serpentina’Say, Journ. Acad. Nat: Sci. Phila., IV, 
pt. 2, 1825, pp. 206, 217 (ref. infers)—Harlan, Journ. Acad. 
Nat. Sci. Phila., VI, pt. 1, 1829, p. 31 (ref. infers ).—Holbrook, 
N. Am. Herp., I'V, 1840, p. 21, Pl. 3 (ref. infers ).—Holbrook, 
ic, Ed: 2, 1 1842 piieguielees: 
Chelydra serpentina Harlan, Med. Phys. Res., 1835, p. 157 
(copied ).—Agassiz, Contrib. Nat. Hist. U. S., I, 1857, p. 417.— 
Abbott, Geol. N. J., 1868, p. 799.—Abbott, Nat. Rambles, 1885, 
Pp. 475.—E. Smith, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. Y., 1898-99, No. 11, p. 
15.—stone, Am. Nat., XL, 1906, p. 169. 
