124 



Hay says that it occurs in the State of Indiana and should be 

 sought for along the Ohio river. Upon this authority we are justified 

 in suspecting its possibility as a Fennsylvanian species. 



'•Holbrook states that it is very voracious, feeding on fish and 

 such reptiles as it can secure, and it is so greedy that it takes the 

 hook readily when baited with any substance whatever, yet he had 

 never known it to take food in captivity, even after several months. 



''They swim with great rapidity, and often conceal themselves in 

 the mud, buried two or three inches, leaving only a small breathing 

 hole for the long neck and small head. This it occasionally thrusts 

 out, but usually keeps it concealed so that a passer-by might think 

 the hole the residence of some large insect. They are often seen 

 basking in the sun, on rocks and apparently asleep." — Hay, page 553. 

 Holbrook says that it "will sometimes leap up and give a loud hiss. 

 Always ready to snap and bite." 



'•In the south they lay their eggs in May. These are about CO in 

 number, have a thick, smooth, brittle shell, and are a little less than 

 an inch in diameter. They are hidden in the sand along the shores 

 of streams." — Hay, page 554. 



FAMILY II. CHELYDRID^E. THE SNAPPING TURTLES. 



The Turtles of this family have a shell high in front, low behind, 

 body heaviest forward, head and neck very large and strong, the 

 snout narrower forward; jaws strong, hooked and very powerful; tail 

 long, strong, with a crest or ridge of horny compressed tubercles; 

 plastron small, cross-shaped, with nine plates besides a very narrow 

 bridge. Claws five in front and four behind, strong, the web between 

 the toes small. 



These are large turtles of great strength and voracity, chiefly 

 aquatic. Three species are known to science, of which two are found 

 in America, but only one occurs in Pennsylvania. 



Species 4. Chelydra serpentina (L.). The Snapping Turtle. 



This is variously known as the Common Snapping Turtle, the 

 Snapping Turtle, the Loggerhead, Loggerhead Terrapin, Snapper, 

 Alligator Couta, Couter, Alligator Tortoise, Serrated Tortoise, Snap- 

 ping Tortoise, Snake Tortoise, Alligator Turtle, Land Turtle, Alli- 

 gator Terrapin and Soup Turtle. We have authority for each of 

 these various names in literature at hand. The most common name 

 is "The Snapping Turtle." Tliis is, of course, named from its habit of 

 snapping or biting at objects when angered, as it will catch sticks 

 or other objects held toward it and often hold on with bulldog tena- 

 city. There is a common superstitious belief, which of course is not 



