128 



aquatic JLitt 



smooth in these small chelonians, oval in 

 outline, and devoid of any projecting bor- 

 der. 



On an average they possess a length of 

 some five inches, with a corresponding 

 width, while their general coloration is a 

 dark brown, with but very few markings 

 of any kind. 



We have three species of Musk Turtles 

 Aromochelys) , and they are confined to 



odor, given off whenever the animal is 

 angry or excited. It ranges from lower 

 Canada to the Florida peninsula and 

 westward to the Rockies. It quite closely 

 resembles the Southern Musk Turtle {A. 

 tristycha), which is found from Georgia 

 westward to Texas, and in all the Gulf 

 States. 



In A. carinatus, the Keeled Musk Tur- 

 tle, the gray head is speckled all over 



Cinosternum pennsylvanicum 



Common Mud Turtle 



eastern North America. In them the 

 plastron is extremely narrow, and af- 

 fords but indifferent protection to the 

 body and limbs. 



Our common Musk Turtle is here 

 shown in Figure 4, somewhat reduced ; 

 it is easily recognized by the two yellow 

 stripes on either side of its head, and by 

 the unkeeled carapace. Its scientific 

 name is Aromochelys odoratus, which is 

 well deserved on account of its musky 



with small, round, dark-colored spots — 

 black in some individuals, while its cara- 

 pace is conspicuously keeled. We meet 

 with it in favorable localities from Geor- 

 gia to eastern Arizona. 



Sufficient material is now in the hands 

 of science with respect to the genus Aro- 

 mochelys to make more or less extensive 

 comparisons of the three species referred 

 to above, as well as with those of the 

 forms inhabitating certain parts of the 



