Species of North American Tortoises. 95 



young individuals having been taken in the Hudson, does not au- 

 thorise us in saying that they inhabit there, although they are nu- 

 merous in the Mohawk, and in all the lakes both above and be- 

 low the cataract of Niagara. I know not from what circum- 

 tance the name of ferox has been taken, as they are not more 

 inclined to bite than most other species of tortoise. Of all 

 animals of the family of Chelonides, they furnish the most 

 delicious and nourishing food. They are sometimes caught 

 with the hook, but more frequently are speared or shot. 



2. Trionyx muticus. 



Testa cai'tilaginea, ovalis, integerrima, interdum ad medium 

 dorsi depressa ; glaberrima, antice nuda, sive ad marginem non 

 tuberculata: os labiatum, antice nudum, labiis revolutis oppositis : 

 pedes antici squamis tribus latis et acutis supra et antice, et 

 duobus tuberculis oblongis postice instructi : pedes postici 

 squama unica infra et postice : cauda brevis. 



Le Sueur, Memoires du Museum d'histoire Naturelle ann. 8. 

 fasicul. 4, p. 267 



This species, which was first noticed by M. Le Sueur, inha- 

 bits the north-western lakes and the western rivers along with 

 the preceding : I cannot, however, as yet consider it per- 

 fectly distinct. The only real difference between the two 

 consists in the perfectly smooth shell of this ; I have examined 

 eight different individuals of various sizes, which all agreed in 

 this respect. I cannot, however, admit of two other charac- 

 teristics pointed out by M. Le Sueur — ^first, that the margin of 

 the shell is confounded with the neck when this is extended ; 

 the same is the case with regard to the T. ferox, the only dis- 

 tinction being the projecting tubercles in front ; secondly, he 



Vol. III. 13 



