CONTENTS 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ....... vii 



PUiiFACE . . . Jx 



INTRODUCTION .... . . . xi 



PART I: THE TURTLES AND TORTOISES 



Order CHELONIA 



CHAPTER PAGE 



I. CLASSIFICATION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN TURTLES 



AND TORTOISES ...... 3 



II. THE SEA TURTLES; Families Spbargida and Chelonidce 

 Largest of the Chelonians. These Strictly Aquatic 

 Reptiles May be Recognised by their Seal-like 

 Flippers ....... 4 



III. THE SNAPPING TURTLES; Family Chelydridce 



A Small Family, Composed of Three Large and 



Powerful Species . . . . . .11 



IV. THE MUSK OR MUD TURTLES; Family Cinosternidce 

 The Genera Aromochelys and Cinosternum, Com- 

 posed of Small and Thoroughly Aquatic Species, 



the Majority Inhabiting North America . 17 



V. THE TERRAPINS; The Genera Cbrysemys, Malaco- 

 demmys, and Cbelopus. Family Testudinidce. 

 A Group of Aquatic Chelonians Known Commonly 

 as Pond Turtles and River Turtles. They are 

 Characterised by their Broad, Flat Shell. 

 Most of the Species are Edible ... 28 

 VI. THE Box TURTLES; Genera Emys and Cistudo 



Turtles with Divided, Hinged Plastrons Descriptions 



of the Species Their Habits .... 54 

 VII. THE TORTOISES; Genus Testudo 



Strictly Terrestrial Chelonians. Represented in North 



America by Three Species .... 65 

 xv 



