486 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



time they spend basking during the day, it is supposed that they feed princi- 

 pally at night. 



The basking ground along the south shore of Outlet Bay was so much 

 used that the grass and weeds were much worn off by the turtles, and a great 

 many shed scutes were to oe found there. A dense growth of algse occurred 

 near shore in Avhich the turtles would hide when frightened. On April 23, a 

 Map Turtle of medium size was seen basking, sitting crosswise on the back 

 of a somewhat larger Painted Turtle. 



The time of mating was not positively observed. On October 4, and later 

 in the fall, they appeared frequently m pairs walking about on the bottom of 

 the lake, or a small one following a large one about. On April 27, small ones 

 were also noted following large ones about as if about to mate. As a pair 

 of Musk Turtles were observed actually mating in the autumn, it is probable 

 that the other turtles, including this species, occasionally do so at that time. 

 They begin laying their eggs at least as early as June 12. They do not go 

 far from the water, but dig their nests in the sandy shores or hanks near the 

 lake. They even sometimes attempt to make nests in rather stiff clay, or 

 in rather hard ground. On June 18 one was seen in the road back of the Miller 

 cottage, digging a hole for a nest. The hind feet were used in digging. 

 On June 23 one was seen on her nest between the ties of the railroad south 

 of the ice-houses. After the turtle had left, the place was examined and 11 

 eggs were found. Occasionally an egg maj' be dropped in the water or on 

 the shore where there is no nest. The eggs are elliptical-cylindrical, about 

 \}/2 X 7-8 inch, the shell l)eing quite soft and flexible. 



This turtle continues basking later in the fall than any other species. 

 On Xovem})er 2 and 3 quite a number wl're seen on the stones along the east 

 side of the lake, and one was seen basking as late as November 22. Late 

 in autumn when the air gets chilly these turtles, when basking on stones or 

 boards, assume a peculiar position. The legs instead of being drawn up 

 toward the body, are stretched out straight and stiff and the turtle on being 

 approached tumbles rather than scrambles into the water. The cold of 

 autumn benumbs them quite considerably. On November 30, while walking 

 along the south shore of tlic lake, several turtles of this species were observed 

 to leave sliore and take lo the water. They attempted to dive, Init were un- 

 aole to do so; they plunged their beads below the surface, tilting up the pos- 

 terior part of the body, and finally succeeded in getting all under water 

 except the hind legs, which, projecting above the surface, fanned the air 

 frantically and in the most ludicrous fashion. Seven of these turtles were 

 caught; four of them were quite large. They were placed in an open- 

 hottonied live-box near the station where it was thought they would bury 

 themselves in the soft sand for the winter. All, however, were soon frozen. 



In the autumn these turtles, along with the Painted, show a tendency to 

 migrate from the larger lake into Lost Lake. They usually go down the 

 Outlet, but in the autumn of 190(1 a dam was built across the (Jutlet at the 



