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Their omnivorous habits make it difficult to determine their eco- 

 nomic importance in this regard. It is said they are very destructive to 

 fish and water-fowl in some regions; on the other hand they may do an 

 important work as scavengers and as destroyers of insects. Many of 

 them are savage in disposition and their jaws are capable of inflicting 

 ugly wounds. Most of them are strictly aquatic in habits, being found 

 in ponds arid muddy streams, which they seldom leave. 



The Common Box Turtle, Cistudo (Terrapene) Carolina. This very 

 variable but well-known animal is the slow, plodding tortoise that is 

 found in gardens and fields all over the Eastern States. It is a 

 gentle, harmless animal, as though it realized that its tightly closing 

 shell afforded such perfect protection that offensive actions on its part 

 were unnecessary. As stated above it is probably not fit for food so that 

 its economic importance depends upon its feeding habits. Its food 

 consists of berries and other vegetable matter, including, it is said by 

 some, melons; also insects and other small animals. It is thought by 

 Surface that the destruction of cantaloups on their vines is more than 

 paid for by the destruction of insect pests, so that this species is a friend 

 to the farmer and should be protected. 



Among the chelonia that are of less economic importance are the 

 Musk, Map, Red-bellied, Speckled, and Wood Turtles. While most of 

 these are used for food, to some extent, they are all, according to the 

 investigations of Surface, probably of benefit as insect destroyers or 

 scavengers or both. 



Other more or less well-known forms are perhaps neither very 

 useful nor especially harmful to the interests of man. In some cases so 

 little is known of their habits that it is impossible to form an opinion 

 of their economic importance. 



As subjects for dissection and experimentation almost any of the 

 common chelonia have a certain value and there are several firms that 

 keep them regularly in stock to sell to colleges and other institutions. 



The fresh-water turtles that are used for food or for scientific 

 purposes are captured in various ways. Many of them are taken, 

 sometimes scores in a day, by digging them out of the mud or sand in the 

 bottom or along the shores of the ponds or streams in which they live. 

 At the approach of winter they bury themselves in these places and 

 hibernate until spring. With a pointed and barbed rod the hunter 

 prods into the mud and on feeling a turtle pulls it up with the rod. 



