472 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



The Turtles and Batrachians of the Lake 

 Maxinkuckee Region/ 



Barton Warren Evermann and Howard Walton Clark. 



While engaged on a physical and bioiogieal survey of Lake ISIaxinkuekee, 

 Indiana, in 1899 to 191.3, under the auspioes of the United States Bureau of 

 Fisheries, the present writers paid some attention to the herpetology of the 

 region. Although tnis work was rather incidental to the main purpose of 

 the survey, it very soon became evident that most, if not all of the species 

 of reptiles and batrachians of that region bear a very close and important 

 relation to the fish-fauna of the lake. We therefore collected specimens of 

 the various species observed and recorded our observations on the occurrence, 

 abundance, distril)ution and habits of each. Our notes on the snakes have 

 already been publisheo in these proceedings.^ 



In the present paper we include the turtles, frogs, toads and salamanders. 



The Turtles. 



Nine species of turtles are known from Lake Maxinkuckee ana vicinity, 

 a number probably greater than has been recorded from any other locality 

 in the State. Fi^•c of the 9 species are aliundant, while each of the remaining 

 4 is rare. 



The turtles constitute an interesting and important branch of the local 

 fauna. Several of the species are so abundant and easily observed as to at- 

 tract the attention even of people who are little interested in nature. The 

 great numbers that may be seen on any brignt or quiet summer day, basking 

 on timbers or boards in shallow water, or on sandy reaches of shore, can not 

 fail of observation even by the least observing. 



The turtles are also among the most useful animals of the lake. All the 

 species are scavengers and do much to keep the lake free of dead fishes 

 and other animals which at times are so numerous that they would prove a 

 menace to the comfort, if not to the health, of the people about the lake, 

 were it not for aid rendered by the turtles in removing them. Several of the 

 species are valuable as food for man, and considerable numbers are utilized 

 at the lake for that purpose. 



AU these turtles are entirely harmless except, possibly, the snapping 

 turtle. We know of no harm that any of them does. They should all be 

 protected. 



iPuhlished by permission of Hon. Hugh M. Smith, U. S. Commissioner of Fish 

 and Fisiieries. 



^Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science for 1914, pp. 337-348. 



