14 THE YELLOW-BELLIED TERRAPIN. 



The Wood Tortoise {Chelopus inscvlpta) inhabits the States east of the Ohio, in fields 

 and woods. Its shell is keeled, its plates marked with concentric strice, and radiating lines. 

 A black spot on each scale gives characteristic marking. 



Muhlenberg's Tortoise (C. viulilenhergii) is the most circumscribed in its habitat, 

 being found only in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It is rare in those places. Its length 

 is about three and a half inches. It inhabits small brooks and streams of running water. 



The Speckled Tortoise {Ohelopus guUatus) is found in Eastern United States, and as far 

 west as North ern Indiana, where it is abundant. Its main color is black with orange spots. 

 The plastron is yellow, blotched with black. This Tortoise is a favorite pet with the small boy 

 of New England. 



^o^ 



Blanding's Tortoise {Emys Tneleagris) inhabits the moist woods and fields in Wisconsin, 

 and eastward to the AUeglianies. Its coloration and markings are somewhat like those of the 

 latter. The shell has no keel. 



The Painted Tortoise {Chrysemys picta) is familiarly known in some quarters as the 

 Mud Turtle. It is one of tlie most common in the Eastern States. It is greenish-black, the 

 plates having a paler margin. The marginal plates are marked with bright red, looking much 

 as if it were fi'eslily paiiited. The plastron is yellow, blotched with brown. Its length of 

 shell is about six inches. Two varieties are found respectively in Wisconsin and in Western 

 New York. 



The Map Turtle {Malacoclemmys geographicus) is singular in its marlvings, suggesting 

 the lines on a map, hence the name. Its locality is the Mississippi River, and northward to 

 New York. 



liESUETiR's Map Turtle {M. lesueri) is yet another species, found in Wisconsin and Ohio, 

 and from thence southwest. It is much like the preceding, but grayer ; the markings are 

 paler and in larger pattern. 



The Salt Marsh Turtle {M. palustris), called also Diamond-back, is of a greenish or 

 dark olive color, with concentric dark stripes along the plates of both shells. It inhabits 

 along the coast from New York to Texas. It is found along the northern shores of Long 

 Island, where it is called Salt Water Terrapin, and is the justly prized and notable luxury of 

 epicures. It frequents low brackish or salt streams near the sea-shore, hibernating in the 

 mud, during the season, from whence it is taken in great numbers for the markets ; it is then 

 very fat. 



The Smooth Terrapin {Psendemys terrapin) is sold in the markets as the same as the 

 preceding. It is said that the two are procured from the same localities. DeKay thinks that 

 the latter inhabits the salt and brackish waters indifferently. 



Red-bellied Terrapin {Pseudemys rugosa). This is found in the Middle States, from 

 New Jersey to Virginia. It is a handsome creature — for a reptile — and is easily distinguished 

 by its serrated jaws. As an edible it is somewhat prized. Its length is eleven inches. 



Hieroglyphic Turtle (P. JiyeroglypJdca). Found quite circumscribed in the Eastern 

 States. The shell is smooth, flat, and olive-brown in color, with broad, reticulated, yellowish 

 lines ; the lower is pale yellow ; tlie head very small ; length of shell, twelve inches. 



Yellow-bellied Terrapin (P. troostif). This species is found in the valley of the 

 Mississipi)i, and northward to Illinois. Its colors are greenish-black, the side-plates having 



