270 RAMBLES ABOUT HOME. 



and fro as he proceeds, as though inspecting the ground 

 as he goes. His walk is said to resemble that of our 

 alligator; like them, falling now and then on his sternum 

 to rest, and then proceeding." 



In New Jersey these turtles vary, in successive years, 

 as to the time of leaving the water for the purpose of 

 laying their eggs. I have occasionally found them as 

 early as the first week in April, but usually not until a 

 month later. My impression is that they do not wander 

 so far from the water, and are less particular about the 

 localities chosen for depositing their eggs than are the 

 other turtles. I have often found them but two or three 

 hundred yards from the pond or creek from which the 

 animals had come. They dig quite shallow beds, com- 

 paratively, in sandy soils, and place therein their whole 

 complement of eggs. Once laid, no care seems to be ex- 

 ercised in covering the spot, and so it is readily found. 

 Skunks have a decided liking for their eggs, and may 

 frequently be found, during moonlight nights, digging 

 them up. Indeed, in isolated spots, the skunks will be 

 abroad during the day, and dig out the eggs as soon as 

 the fierce old snapper has left them. 



It is at this time of the year that we may most con- 

 fidently expect to hear the snappers make that peculiar 

 sound which comprehends their entire range of vocal 

 powers. It is a hoarse " kweep," much like thac ot the 

 Muhlenberg turtle, and uttered under similar circum- 

 stances. In thus limiting their vocal utterances to a sin- 

 gle sound I may perhaps be somewhat hasty, but, after 

 years of patient watching, I have never heard any other 

 that could be confidently attributed to them. Old fisher- 

 men and snapper-hunters have told me, however, that they 

 do occasionally make a deep roaring or bellowing sound, 

 by which I understand a roaring sound heard at a great 



