612 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



Here they "mud up" for a brief period. The first warm days 

 of March call them forth, however, and they may again be seen 

 on the logs and chunks basking in the sun. 



The food of this turtle consists chiefly of small mollusks, crusta- 

 ceans, insect larvae, and dead fish. On June 6 a Painted Turtle and 

 a Stink-pot were observed both feeding on a floating dead fish, and 

 at other times we have seen the former species feeding upon dead 

 fish. In every case the turtles began eating at the caudal end of 

 the fish. 



We have no evidence that this species ever catches live fish. 

 The stomach of one examined October 8 contained a quantity of 

 Spirogyra. Others examined contained Spirogyra and quantities 

 of another alga, Lyngbya; another contained some Naias. This 

 turtle is therefore largely a vegetable feeder. It is probably chiefly 

 a scavenger and in this capacity serves a useful purpose in freeing 

 the lake beaches of dead fishes, waterdogs, and the like, which 

 wash up on the shore in considerable numbers. 



This turtle is not often used as food, although there is no rea- 

 son why it should not be so utilized. It has no disagreeable odor 

 and the flesh is doubtless tender, palatable and nutritious. 



The enemies of the Painted Turtle are not many. Among ani- 

 mals doubtless the worst is the muskrat. On December 18 a large 

 example of this turtle was found at Norris Inlet, turned on its 

 back and partly devoured. Muskrat tracks were the only ones 

 about, and it is evident that that animal had been feeding on it. 

 It is this turtle more than any other that is found, back down, on 

 tussocks in the winter along the Inlet and Outlet, and with the 

 body more or less gnawed away, probably the work of muskrats. 



On another occasion (November 19), we found a small live 

 Painted Turtle lying upside down on a log. It may have been left 

 there by a muskrat or a raccoon. 



Leeches are often found on this turtle and doubtless cause it 

 considerable annoyance. All the turtles of the lake, but this one 

 especially, usually harbor the flat leech (Clepsine) in considerable 

 numbers. These are usually found on the bare skin along the 

 sides and in the axils of the arms, at which time they are probably 

 sucking blood. The leeches are also frequently found on the shell 

 of the turtle, either on the carapace or plastron, but when in this 

 situation, it is doubtful if they are obtaining any food. Winter 

 seems to be the period of greatest mortality with them ; in spring, 

 one occasionally finds them lying about dead in such places as they 

 make their winter quarters, such as the pools in Green's flat. Men- 

 tion has already been made of the great number that are destroyed 



