The Terrapins 



frightened, the Painted Terrapin forms a typical representative 

 of the pond turtles, which depend upon the water to such an 

 extent that they are unable to feed unless beneath the surface 

 of this element. The food consists of aquatic insects, tadpoles, 

 fishes and water plants. 



Not difficult to capture and very attractive in its colouration, 

 this terrapin is frequently seen in a captive state, but as an in- 

 mate of an aquarium it is not only annoying, but dangerous 

 to the other life, as it will swim after the fishes, biting at their 

 fins and tails, and, if they be small enough, overpowering and 

 eating them. It is fond of raw chopped beef, chopped fish, 

 earthworms and soft-bodied insect larvae. If lettuce leaves 

 be left floating on the water, it will browse upon these. 



THE WESTERN PAINTED TERRAPIN 



Chrysemys marginata, (Agassiz) 



Size and structure of the shell, like the preceding. Differs 

 only in the colouration. 



Colouration. The brilliant red markings on the upper and 

 lower marginal shields of the carapace, are present, but the 

 yellowish borders of the larger shields are very narrow, as com- 

 pared with C. picta. Another difference, is the presence of a 

 large, blackish patch in the central portion of the plastron. 



Dimensions. Length of Carapace 5J inches. 



Width of 3! 



Length of Plastron 5 



The largest specimen examined had a carapace six inches 

 long. 



Distribution. The Central States, from western New York 

 to Iowa; possibly extends as far south as Louisiana. 



BELL'S TERRAPIN 

 Cbrysemys belli, (Gray) 



In shape the carapace is similar to the two preceding species, 

 but this is a larger terrapin. It is most nearly allied to C. cinerea. 

 Colouration. Carapace dark olive or brown; the yellowish 

 borders on the larger shields to be noted with the two preceding 

 terrapin, are very narrow, or absent. On some specimens the 

 shields are narrowly margined with black. Traversing the 



33 



