Till: t.M.T-W.iTER TV.'/;/.' I /'/M 



II 



TIIK S.U.T-WATH IMS ia a well -known species, living in North and South America, 



where it is in great nipiest for tin- table. 



Thep-neri.- name of Mahu-lemys, or Soft Term pin, liaa been given to tins -|M-, i,-, ..n a, vomit 

 of tin- formation of the head, \\hidi ia covered with soft, spongy >kin. The head in large in 

 |'iii|mMi<iii to the >!/ of tin- animal, ami flattened above. 



This Terrapin lives in the suit water marshes, where it is very plentiful, nml from which 

 it never ti-avels to any great distance. 1 luring the warm months of tin- \ear it is lively, and 

 constantly search in:; after pre\ . l-ut w hen the cold weather comes on, it burrows a hole in the 

 muddy hunka of ita native marsh, and there lies buried until the warm sunbeams of pring 

 break its slumbers, and indno- it on,-,- mopp to wvk the upper earth and resume ita former 

 ai-tive existence. 



QUAKKB TUKTUIUL-Jbi 



It is more active in its movements than is the case with the Tortoises in p-nenil, and can 

 not only swim rapidly, but walk with tolerable speed. It is very shy, and discovers approach- 

 ing peril with a keenness of perception that could scarcely be expected from one of these 

 shielded reptiles, whose dullness and torpidity have long been proverbial. 



Mr. Holbrook, in his valuable " North American Herpetology," writes as follows concern- 

 ing this Terrapin : 



"They are very abundant in the salt marshes around Charleston, and are easily taken 

 when the female is about to deposit her eggs in the spring and early summer months. They 

 are then brought in immense numbers to market ; yet, notwithstanding this great destruction, 

 they are so prolific that tht-ir number appears nndiminished. Their flesh is excellent at all 

 times, but in tin- northern cities it is most esteemed when the animal has been dug out of the 

 mud in its state of hiU-rnation. The males are smaller than the females, and have the con- 

 centric striic more deeply impressed." 



The color of this Salt- water Terra pin is rather variable, but is usually dark greenish-brown 

 on the upper surface, and y.-llow on the plates which surround the edge of the shell. Below 

 it is yellow, and in many SJM-I iniens it is marked with variously shaped spots of dark gray. 

 The lower jaw is furnished with a hook, and the sides of the bead are dusty white sprinkled 

 with many small black spots. 



