REPTILES. 147 



CLEMMYS GUTTATA (Schneider). 



SPECKLED TORTOISE. 

 (PI. VII.) 



Emys (juttata, Sager, 1889, 301. 

 Narwrni/s (jutiatus, Smith, 1879, 7. Miles, 1861, 23o. 

 CJemmijs f/uttatu.8, Clark, 1902. 193; 1905, 110. Thompson, 1911, 

 107. 



Description: Carapace riiiid, covered with horny plates, oval in 

 ontline and widest behind the middle. Carapace without a keel. 

 Plastron large, without a transverse hinge, and immovably joined 

 to tiie carapace. Head of moderate size; snout not projecting; 

 upper jaw notched in front. 



Carapace black or dark reddish brown with one to several round, 

 bright orange spots on each scute. The plastron is reddish orange 

 and black, the black being limited to large blotches on the ends 

 of the scutes. The head and the upper surface of neck and limbs 

 are black (often washed with red) with orange spots, the imder 

 surfaces orange yellow, the throat marbled with darker. 



Hahits and Hahitat: We have no notes on the habits of this 

 turtle in Michigan. Ditmars (1907, 51) has recorded the following 

 observations : ^'The writer has found many specimens along brooks 

 that here and there spread into thick, grassy spots. It is in this 

 water-grass that the turtles delight to hide, after feeding. The 

 species always feeds under w^ater and, in fact, appears to be unable 

 to swallow unless the head is submerged. The food consists largely 

 of dead fish and the larvae of aquatic insects. Captive specimens 

 wiU eat the tender leaves of lettuce if these be thrown upon the 

 surface of their tank. It therefore appears probable that they 

 feed upon various water plants as well, while in a wild condition." 

 Ilolbrook's account differs in some respects from the above. He 

 says (1812, I, 83). ''It lives in ponds, brooks and rivers, feeding 

 on such animals as it can seize, as tadpoles, young frogs, etc. It 

 takes to the land frequently' in search of food, devouring earth- 

 worms, crickets, grasshoppers, etc.'' Hay (1892a, 577) states that 

 it is less aquatic than most of our turtles but ''seems io delight in 

 being in tlie neighborhood of swamps and sluggish streams, and 

 probably s])en(ls the greater ])art of its time in the water.'' 



The same writer also savs "Their food is said to consist of tad- 

 poles, young frogs and other ^^ eak animals. On land they devour 

 earthworms, crickets and grasshoppers." Surface (1908, 10G-1G7) 

 has sunnnarized his examination of the stomachs of 27 specimens 

 as follows : 



