490 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE, 



found in practically every stream, pond and lake in the state. While it is 

 not rare in running streams, it is in the small lakes and ponds that it most 

 delights to dwell. Choice situations are small muddy ponds in which are 

 many old logs or chunks on which they may bask. 



Next to the Map Turtle, this is the most abundant species in Lake 

 Maxinlaickee ; and, excepting the Spotted Turtle and the Elegant Turtle, 

 it is the most beautiful. 



In the spring they are first noticed about the middle of March in the small 

 pools along the railroad between Green's flat and the Outlet. Here they 

 become very abundant in April, sitting on logs, chunks, or other objects, 

 sunning themselves. They do not appear in numbers in the lake proper until 

 later. By the first of June they can be found anywhere in shallow water 

 about the lake. 



During the summer and until Deceml)er the.y may be seen basking in the 

 sun. Wherever a log, post, board or other object affords supi)ort above the 

 water there they will sit quietly all day long, sliding off into the water only 

 when disturbed. A favorite place was on the boards and timbers in the lake 

 off the ice-houses. From July to October, hundreds could be seen at this 

 place. The earliest and latest dates upon which we saw this species basking 

 were March 17 and December 3. They were observed moving about under 

 the ice as late as December 16. 



Near the end of Long Point on the north sid<' was a portion of an old 

 pier which had drifted ashore and grounded in shallow water. This was a 

 favorite 1)asking place for turtles tliroughout the summer and fall, and 40 

 to 50 could be seen there any time. When disturlied they would scurry into 

 the water where they could be seen scattered about near the pier, their heads 

 sticking out of the Avater, ready to crawl out again when the cause of their 

 alarm has disappeared. The majority were Painted Turtles, though there 

 were usually among them several Maps and a few Soft-shells, an occasional 

 Musk Turtle, and now and then a Snapper. 



On July 2."), 18!!9, 280 Painted Turtles were caught at one haul with a 

 35-foot seine off the Assemblj' Grounds. 



This turtle is a sluillow water s])ecies and is not often ol)served out in tlic 

 lake at any great distance from the shore; in wliich respect it differs markedly 

 from the Map Turtle, the Soft-shell and the Snapper. We have no record of 

 any Painted Turtle having been seen in the lake more than a few rods from 

 shore. 



On the other hand, it is seen oftener than any other species on dry land 

 about the lake. 



Early in June, they begin wandering about, apparently hunting for suit- 

 able nesting places. They probably wander farther from the lake than any 

 other species (excepting the Snapper), and may be seen in the fields, pastures, 

 along the raiU-oad, and in the open woods. They lay their eggs about the 

 middle of June in shallow holes which they dig in the sand with their hind 



