598 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



water or near it ; they are usually seen about the water's edge and 

 in pools early in the spring. On April 3, one about the size of a 

 dollar was caught in a pool east of the railroad. The first winter 

 appears to be a critical period in their lives; quite a number of 

 small ones were found dead at the water's edge in early spring, be- 

 tween April 3 and April 26. 



They begin laying about the middle of June. Several were seen 

 on or about nests between June 14 and 20. The nests consist sim- 

 ply of holes made in the sand, usually not very far from water. 

 One of the favorite nesting places was the railroad embankment 

 between the lakes. The eggs are quite spherical in shape and 

 about an inch in diameter. The shell is calcareous, and, although 

 not brittle, somewhat less flexible than in other species. The num- 

 ber of eggs may vary from 20 to 60, and they hatch in August or 

 September. According to Agassiz, the young will snap before they 

 have left the shell. We have never seen one so small that it would 

 not snap viciously. 



This turtle is often used for soups, though only the younger 

 examples are suitable for that purpose. The older individuals 

 have a strong disagreeable odor, and the flesh is tough. Accord- 

 ing to Dr. Hay, Storer wrote that in Massachusetts many persons 

 saved the oil of this turtle and used it for healing bruises and 

 sprains. "As a therapeutical agent it is worthy to stand along- 

 side of goose, rattlesnake and skunk oil." 



This turtle reaches a large size. Examples weighing 40 pounds 

 each have been reported, although one of 12 or 16 pounds is gen- 

 erally regarded as a large Snapper. 



The measurements of 3 of the larger examples taken at Maxin- 

 kuckee are given in the following table: 



123 



Length of carapace (inches) 13.25 11 7 



Width of carapace 14.25 10 6.25 



Length of plastron 9.12 8.5 5.25 



Width of plastron 5 3.06 



Length of head and neck 11 .... .... 



Length of hind leg and foot 9.5 .... .... 



Length of fore leg and foot 9 .... .... 



Length of tail 12 .... .... 



Weight 16 Ibs. 13 Ibs. 10 Ibs. 



The Snapper has very few enemies. Very young examples may 

 occasionally fall a prey to voracious fishes, but the larger examples 

 are exempt from the attacks of anything except leeches, which 

 are usually present on them in small numbers. A Snapper kept in 

 captivity in a live box in the lake was badly infested with them. 



