SHORT STUDIES OF TURTLES. 261 



saw the turtle come to the surface, and crane its neck as 

 far out of the water as possible. Opening its mouth 

 widely, it made the same utterance, and repeated it, after 

 an interval of probably ten seconds. The sound was 

 different from that of the snapper, but the movements 

 accompanying the utterances were identical. Since then, 

 I have not been able to detect any evidence of vocal 

 powers ; but it must be borne in mind that in my sub- 

 sequent studies of these turtles I had several associated ; 

 and if, as I suppose, the note I heard is really a " call," 

 then it would only be uttered by solitary individuals, 

 when in search of a mate. 



Early in summer, if at no other time, the voice of the 

 turtle is heard in the land. 



The pretty speckled turtle next commands our atten- 

 tion, and although a very abundant species, it may yet 

 be studied to advantage without fear of repetition, as 

 there remains much to be said as to its habits. 



This turtle is at once recognized by its jet-black shell, 

 sparsely sprinkled with small, round, bright-yellow spots. 

 It can never be mistaken for any other species. Strictly 

 aquatic in habit, it favors quiet waters, and is essentially 

 inactive except during the breeding season. Then it is 

 very restless, and comes into ditches where it is not only 

 impossible to swim, but where the water is so shallow 

 that its shell is exposed as it crawls over the mud. At 

 such times they are found in pairs, and are very demon- 

 strative. However inert they may appear at other times, 

 they are, throughout the month of May, more like all the 

 rest of animated nature, and they then give evidence of 

 capabilities of exertion not apparent during the summer 

 and autumn. 



Like all the turtles, when the weather has become 

 fairly warm, and the surface soil has lost much of the 



