REPTILES. 131 



the food liabits : "Unfortunately, only two of tlie Soft-slielled 

 Turtles available for examination contained food, although a greater 

 number were examined and found to be empt}^ Of these neither 

 had eaten any vegetable matter, but both contained Crayfish, 

 which are common inhabitants of streams they frequent, and are 

 doubtless among the chief elements of their food. In devouring 

 Crayfish (or Crawfish), any creature is objectionable from the fact 

 that it is one of the most important foods of the carnivorous fishes. 

 Hay asserts that 'it feeds on such fishes and reptiles as it can 

 secure.' 



"One Soft-shelled Turtle was found to contain fragments of 

 beetles so broken as to be beyond recognition, but indicating the 

 possibility of these creatures feeding upon insects which may be 

 found floating on the water or in damp places frequented by such 

 turtles. 



"We take this opportunity to record the fact that we have found 

 the Soft-shelled Turtle feeding upon grains of corn obtained in or 

 near the ponds which they inhabit. A specimen examined by us 

 in Ohio some years ago contained both yellow and red field corn, 

 or Indian corn, to the extent of almost as much corn as would be 

 produced upon two average ears of this plant." 



Mating must take place during April or May (Newman) and the 

 nesting period extends from about the middle of June to the middle 

 of July. Newman states that "The character of the soil seems to 

 be immaterial so long as it is near the water's edge. Nests were 

 found in clay so hard packed that one could scarcely break it with 

 the fingers. One nest was made in a rock pile, the eggs being 

 dropped into crevices between the rocks, and sand packed around 

 them. Several nests were made among the smaller roots of a tree 

 growing on the sandy beach, the eggs being deposited between and 

 under the roots in a very irregular fashion. The majority of nests, 

 however, were found in the soft beach sand over six feet from the 

 water." 



The same writer briefly describes the nest building as follows : 

 "A warm sunshiny day. Place: the 'old road' about ten feet from 

 the water's edge and concealed from view on one side by tall grass. 

 A large female Aspidonectes has just escaped from the grass and 

 is commencing to make a nest. No time is lost in selecting a spot. 

 She scratches out footholds for the forefeet and begins to excavate 

 with the hindfeet, using right and left alternately with a circular 

 gouging movement. As the hole becomes deeper it is generally 

 necessary for her to give a more nearly perpendicular thrust with 

 the hindfeet. 



