478 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



in the sand, usually not very far from water. One of the favorite nesting 

 places was the railroad embankment between the lakes. The eggs are quite 

 spherical in shape and about an inch in diameter. The shell is calcareous, and, 

 although not brittle, somewhat less flexible than in other species. The 

 number may vary from 20 to 60, and they hatch in August or September. 

 According to Agassiz, the young will snap before the3^ have left the shell. 

 We have never seen one so small that it would not snap viciously. 



This turtle is often used for soup, though only the younger examples are 

 suitable for that purpose. The older mdividuals have a strong disagreeable 

 odor, and the flesh is tough. According to Dr. Hay, Storer wrote that in 

 Massachusetts many persons saved the oil of this turtle and used it for healing 

 bruises and sprains. "As a therapeutical agent it is worthy to stand along- 

 side of goose, rattlesnake and skunk oil." 



This turtle reaches a large size. Examples weighing 40 pounds each have 

 been reported, although one of 12 or 16 pounds is generally regarded as a 

 large Snapper. 



The measurements of '.i of the larger examples taken at Maxinkuckee are 

 given in the following table: 



The Snapper hat. very few enemies. Very young examples may occa- 

 sionally fall a prey to voracious fishes, but the larger examples are exempt 

 from the attacks of anything except leeches, which are usually present in 

 small numbers. A Snapper kept m captivity in a live box in the lake was 

 badly infested with them. During its confinement in the box it became 

 much emaciated, and the algae on its back grew to extraordinary thickness 

 and length. An immense bunch of leeches had collected in the hollow 

 between the neck and front legs and would probably soon have caused the 

 death of the turtle. 



Shell hi^h in front, low behind, the body hea\iest forward; head and neck 

 very large, jaws strongly hooked and very powerful; tail long, strong, and 

 with a crest of horny, compressed tubercles; plastron small, cross-shaped, 

 with 9 plates besides the very narrow bridge; claws 5-4, strong, the web small; 

 color, dusky brown, head with dark spots. Size large. 



