154 



Shaw goes so far as to say, "This species is a voracious eater of 

 ducklings, etc." It is our opinion that such a statement is mislead- 

 ing. Various writers report that the Painted Turtle is eaten by 

 man but is not much esteemed. 



Species 13. 



Chrysemys marginata 

 Turtle. 



(Agassiz). The Margined 



The specific name of this turtle refers to the red marks upon the 

 margin of the plates. It could properly be called ''The Western 

 Painted Turtle," in accordance with the expression used by Dr. Hay, 

 but no better name could be given in accordance with its scientific 

 name and coloration than ''The Margined Turtle," from its specific 

 name. It is also sometimes called Agassis's Ttirtle. Hay called it 



Pig. 9. Margined Turtle. Outline of carapace and plastron and left side view 

 of complete specimen. (One-third nat. size.) Drawn by W. R. Walton, in office 

 of H. A. Surface, State Zoologist. 



the Western Painted Turtle, because it is really the Western form 

 of the Painted Turtle. Prof. Agassiz pointed out the fact that this 

 form has the plates in the longitudinal rows over the back alternat- 

 ing, the rows across the shell being broken, while in the Eastern 

 form the plates are arranged in regular straight rows in each direc- 

 tion, both lengthwise and across the shell. 



Of the Marginal Turtle, the carapace is ovate, depressed, without 

 keel, smooth, margin flaring slightly, never serrated posteriorly, and 

 but slightly notched. Plastron immovable. Jaws as in C. picta 

 Plates of carapace alternating, the lateral series with strong, con- 

 centric striae. Length of shell six inches. Color as mpicta^ except 

 that a dark spot usually marks the central area of plastron of mar- 

 ginata. 



