Aquatic JLitt 



151 



ters, which has been screened during the 

 summer to keep out the' prowling cats. 

 The spot is under the porch, the earth 

 being covered with loose leaves. 



The younger of the two, a female, 

 appears more intelligent than the older 

 or monogramed one, and has now been 

 in the garden for nine years. 



The breeding habits, as observed twice, 

 are most interesting. The female selected 

 a spot, both times the most sandy location, 

 and proceeded to excavate a hole with her 

 hind feet. This was done in a most 

 amusing manner, the feet moving alter- 

 nately with a slow, jerky stroke that 

 moved but little earth. The process took 

 the better part of two days, and the 

 result was a hole shaped as in the sketch. 

 The extremities of her hind feet, point- 

 ing forward, enabled her to undercut the 

 earth in the manner indicated. After the 

 eggs were deposited, the hole was filled 

 level with the surrounding surface of the 

 ground, and both times some small stones 

 crowned the achievement, but it is not 

 clear whether this was intentional or 

 merely accidental. With this accomplished 

 no further attention was given the nest 

 by the female. Misfortune was the lot 

 of both nests, as the eggs failed to hatch, 

 being probably killed by low temperatures 

 during the nights. Seven eggs were de- 

 posited in each nest, the shells being flexi- 

 ble or leathery to the touch, and a "dead" 

 white in color. 



In addition to the purely terrestrial 

 tortoise, several species of aquatic turtles 

 may be kept if provision is made to 

 gratify their water-loving nature. A 

 sunken tub, or better, a concrete pool, is 

 all they require, and in a water garden 

 they are entirely at home, although large 

 examples may damage tender aquatic 

 plants. 



Specimens of the painted turtle 

 (Chrysemys picta) hibernated with the 



box tortoises in the earth under the porch, 

 but were always out and about earlier in 

 the spring, though they retired later in 

 the autumn. During the cold weather of 

 the winter of 1917-18 they froze, not 

 digging in as deep as Cistudo. The 

 aquatic forms never become quite as 

 tame as the box tortoise, but will at times 

 take worms or meat from the fingers if 

 offered them in the tank. 



It is an amusing fact that a small speci- 

 men will often mistake the tail of a larger 

 comrade for a fat and juicy worm and 

 grasp it with vigor, which causes a great 

 commotion until the offender discovers 

 the mistake and relinquishes his hold. 

 Due to its roughness, no harm befalls 

 the tail. These turtles seem much more 

 sociable than the land species, and will 

 usually be noted in parties of several, 

 whereas the box tortoise is solitary. This 

 holds good in both domesticated and wild 

 states. 



When tadpoles kept in aquaria com- 

 plete their metamorphosis, and become 

 frogs or toads, they may well share the 

 garden with the chelonians, though, while 

 small, there is a possibility that they may 

 form a meal for the latter. When they 

 reach a fair size their activity is their 

 protection, while their usefulness in de- 

 vouring noxious insects is their chief 

 recommendation, aside from interesting 

 habits and grotesque actions. 



If a large bed of ferns and mosses be 

 given a place, a picturesque feature can 

 be created by liberating a number of 

 large-shelled land snails. Turtles, how- 

 ever, consider them dainty morsels to be 

 devoured on discovery. Too many may 

 cause damage to the plants, so but few 

 should be introduced at any one time. 



If space can be given to native plants 

 a much more beautiful terrarium can be 

 developed. A shady nook, unsuited for 

 ordinary cultivated kinds, is just the situ- 



