28 



aquatic JLite 



Emory's Soft-shell occurs in the tribu- 

 taries of the Rio Grande in Texas and 

 elsewhere. 



Any one of these species is entirely dif- 

 ferent, both in appearance and in struc- 

 ture, from any of our other fresh-water 

 species ; upon the other hand, they exhibit 

 some very striking differences among 

 themselves, with respect to their external 

 characters. 



Recently I have been engaged upon 

 the anatomy of A. ferox, fine specimens 



As a group, all of these soft-shelled 

 turtles are entirely different in structure 

 and appearance from all other species 

 inhabiting our inland waters. In any one 

 of them, the entire shell is pliable and 

 leathery, especially in front and pos- 

 teriorly. When we take a medium-sized 

 Amy da fcrox out of the water, we may 

 note that its shell is so flexible in front 

 that it droops over the orifice into which 

 the head has been withdrawn. More- 

 over, the entire animal is much corn- 



Head of the Southern Soft-shelled Turtle; dorsal view 



of which have been sent me from the 

 South by Mr. Fred. W. Walker, of Or- 

 lando, Florida. Mr. Walker is a very 

 energetic collector, and a good natural- 

 ist ; he has promised other southern spe- 

 cies of turtles in the near future, and 

 I trust to figure and describe them in this 

 -eric- of articles as they come to hand. 



h also gives me pleasure to once more 

 thank Mr. Edward S. Schmid, of Wash- 

 ington, 1). C, for several beautiful speci- 

 mens of the young of Amyda fcrox, as 

 well as fur the young of other turtles. 

 which will be figured later on in 

 M )l fATIC LIFE. 



pressed in the vertical direction. Its 

 snout is run out proboscis-fashion, and 

 it possesses a very long and flexible neck. 

 Being a species of ferocious temper, with 

 wonderful control over the projecting 

 capacity of this lengthy neck, it can 

 thrust it out with almost incredible celer- 

 ity and seize one by the finger or hand, 

 inflicting a wound often of very decided 

 severity. The edges of its jaws are of 

 razor-like sharpness, and as weapons 

 they are concealed beneath the thin, over- 

 laying skin. After a thrust and a strike, 

 it can. with marked rapidity, draw its 

 (Continued on pope 35J 



