189 



eaten by the Spcokletl Turtle, whilf ;ih iiiany i\n ten I'aintrd Turth'S 

 wei"e found to have eaten rovsc bugs, aud two Sp<'(UI('d TurtlcH had 

 devoured the same pest. I^* af Heetles, which are (juite destructive 

 to tlie foliage of plants, were eaten by four Tainted Turtles, the 

 Wood Turtle and some Speckled Turtles. Snout Beetles or weevils, 

 which are serious plant pests, were eaten by the Painted Turtle and 

 the Speckled Turtle. 



The Hymenoplerous insects, represented by the ants, wawps, and 

 bees, were not extensively devoured by Turtles. Sawflies were found 

 in the stomachs of the Wood and the Speckled Turtle. Ants were 

 found eaten by a Painted Turtle and the Wood Tortoise, and a few 

 other insects of that order were taken by these reptiles. 



It is in the study of the vertebrate food that remarkably interest- 

 ing results are obtained. For example, vertebrates were not found 

 eaten by the Common Soft-shelled Turtles, although it is our opinion 

 that this reptile will feed upon tlesh when it has an opportunity. 

 Undetermined fragments of vertebrates were found in the stomachs 

 of two Snappers, two Painted Turtles and two Wood Turtles, and 

 tish were found eaten by two Snappers and four Painted Turtles. 

 One of the fishes was determined as a Sucker (Catostoma). A frog 

 was found in the stomach of a Snapjjer, and two snakes were found 

 eaten by this reptile. Birds had been devoured by a Snapping Turtle 

 and by two Wood Turtles. An undetermined portion of a mammal 

 was found in the stomach of a Snapper, while a rabbit was found to 

 have been eaten by another Snapper, and mice had been swallowed 

 by two Snappers and a Common Box Turtle. It is probable that any 

 small animal that drops in the water and drowns or becomes help- 

 less may be captured and eaten by Turtles. We know that the 

 aquatic species of those reptiles are often very injurious to fishes in 

 fish ponds. Their presence frequently can be determined by the 

 presence of the air bladders of fishes floating on the water. When 

 the fish is caught by the Turtle the cutting edge of the mouth often 

 opens the body of the fish in such a way that the air bladder e8cap«es 

 and rises to the surface. The Turtle is the only creature feeding 

 under water that cuts the fish to pieces in such a way as to permit 

 the air bladder to escape and come to the surface of the water, and 

 thus tell the story of a combat and fea.st. 



The positive determination of a rabbit having lx?en eaten by a 

 Snapping Turtle is remarkable. If we could dare, in a .serious scien- 

 tific report, to insert a facetious remark, it would be to the offect 

 that in the proverbial race between the Tortoise and the Hare it is 

 not so wonderful that hi.«tory sliould record the winning by the 

 former, since scientific research now definitely shows it may have 

 swallowed its competitor. 



