Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 615 



7. SPECKLED TURTLE 



CLEMMYS GUTTATA (Schneider) 



The Speckled Turtle is found from New England to North 

 Carolina and west to Indiana. In this State it has been found only 

 in the northern part. It has been recorded only from Kendallville, 

 Rochester, English Lake and Lake Maxinkuckee. It is not a very 

 common turtle at Lake Maxinkuckee. Two specimens were ob- 

 tained at the lake in May, 1891, by members of the Indiana 

 Academy of Science. 



The first example seen by us was got at the south end of the 

 lake October 1, 1900. It was next seen April 1, 1901, when two 

 were found on a tussock in Green's flat. The following is the 

 record of all the remaining individuals seen by us : April 3, 1901, 

 one found dead on Green's flat and another found dead in the 

 elevator pond ; April 4, four caught and several others seen basking 

 in Green's flat; April 9, several seen in a ditch in Green's flat 

 and one in a tamarack swamp west of lake; April 15, one caught 

 in Green's flat; April 24, several seen in Hawk's marsh chasing 

 each other in a lively manner; they were evidently mating; three 

 pairs and one odd one were caught; April 25, caught one male in 

 Green's flat; April 26, several seen in Green's flat; April 30, one 

 seen in Green's flat; May 14, one found dead on the west edge of 

 Long Point; May 22, several seen in a ditch near the tamarack 

 swamp, four of which were collected. 



The only one seen in the fall was found in Hawk's marsh Sep- 

 tember 3, 1906. One was obtained in a ditch near Fort Wayne, 

 September 28. 



This interesting and beautiful little turtle is by preference an 

 inhabitant of the small ponds, marshes and open ditches, and is less 

 aquatic than any of the preceding species. We never saw it in 

 Lake Maxinkuckee proper. The one found at the south end of the 

 lake was south of the Farrar cottage at a small pond. As may 

 be seen from the above, its favorite haunts are Green's flat, Hawk's 

 marsh and the vicinity of the tamarack swamp. None was seen 

 on the east side of the lake, but careful search in April and May 

 would doubtless reveal its presence along Aubeenaubee Creek and 

 Norris Inlet, and possibly at Culver Inlet. Late in May, when 

 the ponds have become pretty dry, these turtles disappeared. 



They began mating about the middle of April. Several were 

 seen paired April 19 to 24. When mating, they are more active 

 than we have observed any other species to be. The males chase 

 the females rapidly and persistently until the female is captured. 



