56 



aquatic Hite 



teen dorsal scutes of the carapace are 

 rough, each composed of several-sided 

 shields formed like low pyramids, ris- 

 ing step- fashion, the steps defined by 

 grooves (see figure). These scutes are 

 hexagonal for the medium row, and ir- 

 regularly pentagonal for the surround- 

 ing ones. The center of each shield in 

 the median row develops a blunt-pointed 

 tubercle, the whole line of them forming 

 the so-called "keel," which, on side view, 

 has the appearance of a serrated ridge. 

 These serrations vary greatly in different 

 individuals, being very low in some and 

 conspicuous in others. Age may have 

 something to do with this, they becoming 

 more or less rubbed down in very old 

 specimens. 



In the matter of coloration, this terra- 

 pin, as in the case of other terrapins, 

 varies considerably. Very young speci- 

 mens are extremely beautiful, being of a 

 pale whitish gray, with dark concentric 

 markings. An old female at hand as I 

 write, has the carapace above of a dark 

 olive brown, while the plastron is of a 

 yellowish olive, with the central portion 

 and heavy radiations from it, of an earth 

 brown. The limbs are black, the hinder 

 pair being webbed and very large. The 

 head is of a beautiful olive gray, dotted 

 over with black spots. There is a broad, 

 black maxillary stripe below either eye, 

 and a similar median one on the top of 

 the head. A peculiar character is seen in 

 the curling-up of the free margin of the 

 carapace, especially posteriorly (see 

 figure). 



Female Diamond-backs are consid- 

 erably larger than the males, and have 

 proportionately much larger heads and 

 longer tails. A big one may have a total 

 length of 20 centimeters, and weigh a 

 couple of pounds. 



This species ranges from Texas to the 

 coasts of New England, as far north as 



Massachusetts, being a salt-water 

 species, inhabiting the marshes along the 

 coast, sometimes migrating up the larger 

 rivers. They have been taken up the 

 Hudson as far as Newburgh ; but this 

 does not happen very often. 



One of the fullest accounts of this 

 species, giving descriptions, distribution, 

 habits, economic value, and many other 

 particulars, is the work of Dr. R. E. 

 Coker, entitled "The Cultivation of the 

 Diamond-back Terrapin." (Bull. No. 

 14, the North Carolina Geol. Surv., 

 1906 ; illustrated.) 



This terrapin in nature subsists prin- 

 cipally upon the leaves of certain aquatic 

 plants, small crustaceans, snails. Occa- 

 sionally it may capture small fishes, while 

 in a captive state we may add to its diet 

 chopped meat, oysters and clams. The 

 cut of the Diamond-back here shown is 

 a reproduction of one of the writer's 

 own photographs of a specimen obtained 

 in Center Market in Washington, D. C. 

 The stand where it was borrowed had 

 some one hundred of these reptiles in a 

 big barrel, and they were selling at from 

 $3 to $5 apiece, the market men purchas- 

 ing them for $2 per head. They were in 

 excellent condition, and apparently none 

 the worse for being kept as described. 



Like other terrapins, this species feeds 

 under water, and lays white eggs. Doctor 

 Coker well describes their nests and 

 breeding habits. The young of the Dia- 

 mond-back terrapin would probably 

 thrive in aquaria, if kept under proper 

 conditions of temperature, food, and sa- 

 linity of the water, for they will very 

 soon die in fresh water. Common table 

 salt will answer to produce the correct 

 saline condition. 



Rainbow chasers get at least a run for 

 their money. Gladness is appreciated 

 only by those who know what sadness is. 



