158 



"In fresh water, as early as April 15. Is rather abundant and colo- 

 nial near Trenton. Is aquatic in habits and similar to C. guttata,'''' — 

 Fowler, 242. 



This turtle is found in Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and 

 Southern New York. It is thus decidedly limited in its distribution, 

 and even in this region it is found only in select or limited locations. 

 In our collection we have two specimens, both coming from Dela- 

 ware county, one having been contributed by Mr. S. M. Lehman, of 

 Essington, and the other by Mr. S. Omensetter, of Media. 



Our study of the stomach contents revealed that only one con- 

 tained food, and this consisted of undetermined berries, 20 per 

 cent., and undetermined insects fragments 80 per cent. This shows 

 that it feeds out of water and is accustomed to find fallen berries 

 and other material on the ground beneath bushes. Ditmars says 

 this species feeds readily out of the water, eating tender green 

 leaves, insects and worms. He reports that in captivity it will take 

 chopped meat, earthworms, meal worms, lettuce and berries. We 

 invite further observations and collections of this particular species, 

 concerning which so verj- little has been published. 



Species 15. Clemmys insculptus (Le Conte). The Wood Turtle. 



The Wood Turtle has been variously designated as Sculptured 

 Tortoise, Fresh Water Terrapin, Wood Terrapin, Red Bellied and 

 Rough Back Turtle, Rough Back and Water Terrapin and Wood 

 Tortoise. It takes its common name from the fact that it is abun- 

 dant in woods, living sometimes in such places all the year around 

 and hibernating only beneath leaf mold and fallen leaves. The 

 specific term ^'insculptus" means engraved, and refers to the mark- 

 ings, or lines and grooves, on the back. From these marks it has 

 also been given the name of Sculptured Tortoise, and Rough Back 

 Turtle. 



This species has the carapace ovate, keeled, margin flaring, serrate 

 or toothed in rear. Upper jaw deeply notched and arched down- 

 wards. Head decidedly narrower below than above. Plates or cara- 

 pace with concentric and radiating grooves and radiating black lines; 

 reddish brown; plastron with a black blotch on each plate, posterior 

 margin deeply notched. Length 8 inches. The entire carapace has 

 a rough chiseled aspect, hence the specific name — "insculptus". The 

 fleshy parts, with the exception of the top of the head and limbs, are 

 bright brick-red. 



The number of marginal plates varies somewhat. Our specimen 

 No. 1586a has twenty-four marginal plates, and No. 9467f^ has 

 twenty-seven. 



