130 HERPETOLOGY OF MICHIGAN. 



Color of carapace o-live or light brown, the margin yellow. Near 

 the margin is a narrow, broken line of black. In young specimens 

 there are on the carapace numerous spots somewhat darker than 

 the ground color and each surrounded by a broad, black ring. These 

 spots become smaller and entirely black toward the margin of the 

 carapace, and are obscure in old individuals. Plastron immaculate 

 white or pale yellow. Limbs olive spotted with black. A pair of 

 black lines on the snout, each of which at the base of the latter be- 

 come two diverging black lines separated by yellow, and pass 

 through the eye onto the neck. 



Hahits and Habitat: In southern Michigan the soft-shelled turtle 

 occurs rather commonly in the rivers and lakes Avhich have a soft 

 muddv bottom. Thev are not commonlv seen, as thev seldom leave 

 the Avater, and owing to the fact that the color of the carapace 

 harmonizes well with the color of the bottom. When surpised, they 

 are rapid swimmers and easily elude capture. The larger individ- 

 uals should be handled with care as the lip-like folds of skin cover 

 sharp-edged mandibles that are capable of inflicting considerable 

 injury. 



Newman's (1906, 126 et seq.) observations on the habits of the 

 soft-shelled turtle at Lake Maxinkuckee, Indiana, are the most com- 

 prehensive that have been made and are largeh^ the basis of the 

 following very brief account. 



They appear early in April (or in the latter part of March), 

 from their hibernation, and soon begin to feed actively. In food 

 habits it "is voracious and carnivorous, feeding principally upon 

 crayfish and the larvae of large insects. From the vantage ground 

 of a high bank it was possible on still days to observe individuals 

 as they captured their prey. They crawl or swim along the bottom, 

 thrusting their snout under stones and into masses of aquatic vege- 

 tation, occasionally snapping up a crayfish or larvae that they have 

 succeeded in dislodging. They do not tear up their food, but swal- 

 low it whole, using the fore-feet to assist in forcing it down. 



"The stomachs of three specimens, opened during the latter part 

 of June, contained the following: 



1. A large female contained nine medium sized crawfish, only 

 slightly digested. 



2. A medium sized female contained four crayfish and twenty- 

 two dragon-fly larvae. 



3. A large male contained nine dragon-fly larvae and a few plant 

 buds, probably taken by accident when snapping up larvae." 



Surface (1908, 123) has recorded the following observations on 



