BATRACHIANS AND REPTILES OF OHIO. 139 



The Soft-shelled turtle is common in every stream of the 

 State. Its flesh is excellent as food. Fishermen frequently catch 

 it on hooks bated with liver or beef. When caught it is very 

 savage and snaps with a will. It may be seen floating at the 

 surface of the river or lake and doubtless derives its food to some 

 extent by this means. Its long proboscis-like appendage bears 

 the nostrils, arid this may be pushed above the surface of the 

 water without the body as a whole being conspicuous. 



Specimens in the O. S. U. Mus., from Columbus, Sandusky and London, 

 collected by the author. 



Family : CHELYDRIDAE. 



Chelydra serpentina (L.). With median crest, with strong tubercles. 

 Head narrow, pointed, with dark spots. Tail also crested. Plastron small, 

 cross-shaped. Toes 5-4, well webbed. Length 2 feet. 



The Snapping-turtle is common over the State. It is, like 

 the preceding, prized as food. It is -never seen out of water save 

 when it lays its eggs in the spring. During the winter it buries 

 itself deep in the mud, but during the warmer days it very prob- 

 ably emerges for a short while or until it becomes cold again. 



The Snapper is very savage when caught, and the tenacity 

 with which it grasps a stick or better still a finger is proverbial. 

 Indeed when once the jaws are set down on an object the head 

 may be severed from the body without causing the mouth to open. 

 Specimens in the Cin. Soc. Nat. His., collected by Dr. Lindahl from 

 Hamilton Co. In the O. S. U. Mus., from Columbus, Sandusky and London, 

 collected by the author. 



Family : KlNOSTERNiDAE. 



Aromochelys odoratus (Lat). Carapace long, narrow, high, the 

 highest point being in anterior third of the 'shell. Carapace somewhat 

 keeled. Above dark, spotted with black. Below yellowish. Length 6 inches. 



The Musk-turtle, or Mud-turtle, as it is sometimes called, is 

 very common in the eastern half of the State and in Lake Erie. 

 Westward it becomes abundant. It is never conspicuous. Fish- 

 ermen very frequently catch it, an operation not especially pleas- 

 ing to them as it generally means the loss of a hook. They are 

 often seen sunning themselves on rocks and other elevations from 

 the water, but at the slightest disturbance they drop into the 

 water. 



