616 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



Then the male would immediately climb upon the female's back. 

 Several pairs that were placed in a tub were continually assuming 

 this position, although actual copulation was not observed. 



We have never found the eggs of this species and know very 

 little about its nesting season or habits. Its eggs are said to be 

 only three or four in number, about 1.25 by .75 inch in size, and 

 to be laid in June. 



This turtle is apparently silent, as we have never heard any 

 note which we could positively associate with it. 



A good many dead ones are found in the spring; the winter is 

 probably a critical period with them. 



These turtles are entirely harmless and should be protected. 

 Their food consists chiefly of crawfish, tadpoles, angleworms, and 

 other weak animals found about the water and in the marshes. 



The Speckled Turtle may be readily distinguished from all 

 others by the following description : 



Shell moderately to strongly depressed, oval, widest behind, 

 no trace of keel in adult and scarcely evident in the young ; nuchal 

 scutes very narrow; plastron large, the hinder lobe about three- 

 fourths width of carapace, with a shallow notch in posterior 

 border ; anterior lobe truncated, not movable on a transverse hinge ; 

 plastron of male concave; snout not at all projecting; upper jaw 

 notched, the edge nearly straight ; legs and feet covered with scales, 

 those on front limbs large and overlapping; feet not large, claws 

 rather short, the web not extensive; tail long, that of the male 

 bringing the vent beyond the carapace. 



General color of carapace black, patches of reddish brown show- 

 ing through the darker ; on each scute from one to 12 round bright 

 orange spots, each larger than the pupil ; plastron red, orange and 

 black, the black predominating, the orange usually occupying the 

 center and the margin ; head black above, with orange dots ; usually 

 a large orange spot just above the ear; neck black, with more or 

 less red ; shoulders with much red or orange ; upper surface of 

 limbs black, with yellow and red, lower surfaces red and orange ; 

 tail black, red at base. Length of carapace 4 to 5 inches. 



Weights and measurements of 14 examples are given in the fol- 

 lowing table: 



