REPTILES. 133 



though not in any way disturbed, the tortoise left without attempt- 

 ing to cover up the traces of scratching feet, and anyone who is 

 familiar with the appearance of a tortoise nest would have no diffi- 

 culty in detecting this one. At 12:2o she turned and started for 

 the water but was captured with a landing net. The nest was ex- 

 amined and found to be flask-shai)ed with a narrow neck only an 

 inch and a half in diameter. The depth of the nest was a trifle 

 over six inches and the dii>meter at the bottom about three inches. 

 The nest contained eighte^in rather large spherical eggs of a deli- 

 cate pink color and with a very thin brittle shell." 



After the breeding season is over they spend their time in the 

 water, and as the cold weather comes on, bury themselves in the 

 mud and sand of the bottom where thev remain until the follow- 

 ing spring. 



The soft shelled turtle is highly valued as food, the flesh being 

 delicate and of excellent flavor. Individuals attain a large size, 

 and are rather readilv shot or caught with a hook and line. 



Range: The species has been reported from: Michigan (Agassiz, 

 1857, 404-405) ; "Southern half of the Lower Peninsula. It is 

 frequently met with as far north as Genesee Countj^ and in the 

 streams of the eastern as well as the western slope of the state" 

 (Miles, 18G1, p. 233), Ann Arbor (Smith, 1879, p. 7), Eaton 

 County (Clark, 1902, p. 193) ; Ann Arbor, Brookfleld, Olivet-, and 

 Allegan, Kalamazoo, Montcalm and Van Buren Counties (Clark, 

 1905, p. 110), and Cass County (Thompson, 1911, 107). The writer 

 has seen specimens from : Ann Arbor and Portage Lake, Washtenaw 

 County, White Pigeon, St. Joseph County, Cass County, Kalama- 

 zoo County and Allegan County. 



CHELYDKA SERPENTINA (Linnaeus). 



SNAPPING TURTLE. 

 (PI. VI.) 



Chelydra serpenthia, Sager, 1839, 301. Smith, 1879, 7. Clark, 

 1902, 193; 1905, 110. Kirsch, 1895, 333. Miles, 1861, 232. 

 Hankinson, 1908, 236. Thompson, 1911, 107. Ruthven, 

 1911a, 271. 



Description: Carapace rigid, covered Avith horny plates, broadly 

 oval in outline, rather depressed and serrated behind. There are 

 three moderate keels on the carapace, one median and two lateral, 

 very prominent in the young, less so in old individuals, the keels 

 tuberculated, the tubercles with radiating edges. Plastron small. 



