588 THE BOX TORTOISES OF NORTH AMERICA— TAYLOR. vouxvii. 



low swampy regions of the Mississippi aud its tributaries, tlie climatic 

 conditions here being the reverse of the district occupied by T. ornata. 

 T. Carolina occurs in both the mountains and plains, yet its climatic sur- 

 roundings are somewhat uniform and peculiar to its region. T. bauri 

 inhabits the peninsula of Florida, while T. major is found adjacent to 

 the gulf coast, the two species occupying districts each peculiar iu 

 itself. 



Another peculiar fact in the distribution of Terrapene is that, so far 

 not a single species has been reported west of the Rocky IMountains, 

 notwithstanding its great abundance on the table-lands east of these 

 mountains. 



For an explanation of the cause of this fact we can only surmise. It 

 is well known that in the Alleghany Mountains T. Carolina ascends to 

 a height of several thousand feet, as high, probably, as any other 

 species of our chelonians. Prof. Cockerell and Mr. Ray R. Larkiu 

 have sent us specimens of T. ornata^ collected at Las Oruces, N. 

 Mexico, between five and six thousand feet above the sea level. Possi- 

 bly the true explanation of the fact that Terrapene has not been found 

 west of the Rockies may be accounted for by the great elevation and 

 consequent climate of the mountains. If this explanation be the true 

 one, then it is only a question of time when the Terrapene will finds its 

 way over the Rocky Mountain range. 



The information extant and the material at our command, we regret 

 to say, does not permit us to accurately outline the limits of the species 

 either south or north of the United States boundary lines. It seems 

 probable that at least one or more of our species may extend into 

 Mexico, though no such record exists. Neither do we have any 

 authentic record of the existence of the Terrapene in British America, 

 though it is possible, if not probable that specimens will ultimately 

 be found there. However, if we judge from the comparatively small 

 number of s])ecimens found on the northern borders of the United 

 States, the species can not be abundant north of the boundary line. 



University of Chicago, 



Chicago, Illinois, June 1, 1894. 



