238 VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 



This order is, perhaps, the most useful of tlie chiss, at least from an 

 economical point of view. The flesh and eggs of the sea turtles furnish 

 palatable and nutritious food, while the scales of some species, the hawk- 

 bill turtles, afford the beautiful " tortoise-shell " of commerce. The terra- 

 pins and soft-shelled turtles are the delight of the epicure. The " gopher " 

 is the hon bouche of the Southern negro. INIany species of tortoises now 

 unused might be employed for food were it not for prejudice. 



The tortoises have a very peculiar distribution, being most largely 

 represented in the eastern parts of America and Asia. About seventeen 

 genera and forty-two species inhabit the United States. 



SPHARGIDID.E.* 

 LEATHER TUETLE. Lermatochelys coriacea, (Vandelli) Strauch. 



CHELONIID^.* 



LOGGERHEAD. Thalassochelys caretta, (Linne) True. 

 GREEN TURTLE. Chelonia midas, (Liiine) Schweigger. 



TRIONYCHID^. 



SOUTHERN SOFT-SHELLED TORTOISE. Aspidanectes ferox, (Sohw.) Wagler. 

 SPRING SOFT-SHELLED TORTOISE. Aspidonectes spinifer, (Les.) Agassiz. 



CHELYDRID.E. 

 SNAPPING TURTLE. Chelydra serpentina, (Linn.:^) Schw. 



CINOSTERNID^E. 



MUSK TORTOISE; STINK POT. Aromochelys odorata, (Latreille) Gray. 

 MUD TORTOISES. Cinosternum pennsylvanicum, (Rose) Gray. 



EMYDID.E. 



FLORIDA TERRAPIN. Pseudemys concinna, (LeConte) Gray. 

 YELLOW-BELLIED TERRAPIN. Pseudemys scabra, (Linnr) Cope. 

 SALT WATER TERRAPIN Malacoclemmys palustris, (Gmelin) Agassiz. 



*These marine turtles occur along the greater part of the Atlantic coast of the 

 United States, and although likely at any time to be found on the shores of South 

 Carolina, cannot properly be said to be included in its fauna — F. W. T. 



