592 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



low water, or on sandy reaches of shore, can not fail of observa- 

 tion even by the least observing. 



The turtles are also among the most useful animals of the lake. 

 All the species are scavengers and do much to keep the lake free 

 of the dead fishes and other animals which at times are so numer- 

 ous that they would prove a menace to the comfort, if not to the 

 health, of the people about the lake, were it not for aid rendered 

 by the turtles in removing them. Several of the species are valu- 

 able as food for man, and considerable numbers are utilized at the 

 lake for that purpose. 



All these turtles arc entirely harmless except, possibly, the 

 snapping turtle. We know of no harm that any of them does. 

 They should all be protected. 



LIST OF SPECIES 



1. SOFT-SHELLED TURTLE 



AMYDA SPINIFERA (LeSueur) 



Compared with the other turtles of the lake, the Softshell has 

 a rather northern distribution. It ranges from Canada southward 

 to Kentucky and westward to Minnesota. It is very abundant in 

 the upper Mississippi and its tributaries, great numbers being fre- 

 quently seen on or about the sandbars which furnish them basking 

 and nesting places. It is rather a river than a pond turtle, and 

 rarely or never ventures into small isolated ponds. 



At Lake Maxinkuckee it is very abundant, much more so 

 than would appear to the casual observer, as it is one of the 

 shyest and most wary of turtles, quickly taking alarm and disap- 

 pearing whenever it is approached. It is found everywhere in the 

 lake. Its pointed, shapely head is often seen sticking up above the 

 surface even over the deeper waters of the lake. Examples of all 

 sizes have been taken from almost every part of the lake shore. 

 It seems to be more common in the region of Norris Inlet, prob- 

 ably because this is the most sequestered part of the lake, where it 

 is less likely to be disturbed than elsewhere. 



The Soft-shelled Turtle is the last turtle to make its appearance 

 in the spring, and the first to disappear in the fall. Very small 

 ones, benumbed or dead, may often be seen along shore late in the 

 autumn and early in the spring before the older ones appear. 

 These have probably been unable to take care of themselves. Very 

 small ones have been found in the spring as early as March 18, 

 but no large ones were seen until April 29, and then they were very 

 scarce. It is not until May or June that they appear in abundance. 



