Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 619 



July 10, 1902, one found in Walley's woods near the railroad 

 south of the lake. 



We have heard of perhaps half a dozen others taken or seen 

 within a few miles of the lake. 



The second and third examples listed above give the following 

 measurements : 



This species is entirely terrestial in its habits and is the only 

 strictly land tortoise found in the vicinity of Lake Maxinkuckee. 

 It is never seen in the water and only rarely in or about marshy 

 situations. It most delights in dry, sandy open woodlands where 

 there is some underbrush and where the ground has a thick cover- 

 ing of dry decaying leaves. Favorite places are old overgrown 

 fencerows along the borders of woodland, in blackberry and rasp- 

 berry patches and in beech and oak forests where there are old 

 decaying logs and chunks. 



The Box Turtle is a silent, solitary, and solemn creature; one 

 rarely sees more than one at a time. During the mating season, 

 however, two are sometimes found together. Very rarely is one 

 seen moving about, and a person is not apt to find any of these 

 turtles unless he direct his observations to the ground. And when 

 one is found it will be seen resting perfectly still, with its head 

 projecting from the shell and staring at you stupidly. When you 

 pick it up it will draw in its head and feet and close its shell tightly. 

 Occasionally it will make a slight hissing noise, the only noise we 

 have ever heard it make. It is a wholly harmless, inoffensive crea- 

 ture. It is easily domesticated and, as a garden pet, possesses 

 many interesting and attractive characteristics, albeit not very 

 exciting. 



Their mating season in this region is in late April and May, 

 and the eggs are laid in shallow burrows in sandy soil. We know 

 nothing about the number of eggs laid nor the period of incubation. 



The food of this species consists chiefly of grub^, angleworms 

 and succulent plants and fruits. When kept as pets they will eat 

 cabbage, lettuce, musk melon, tomatoes, mushrooms, angleworms 

 and meat. They soon learn to take food from one's hand. 



