170 



ftquatic JLitt 



markings there seen are abrasions from 

 the plastron having rubbed against the 

 box in which it traveled from its Florida 

 home. Several of the Adel specimens 

 had the plastron beautifully blotched with 

 intense black, the ground color being a 

 very pale yellow. It will be remem- 

 bered that the plastron in our Painted 

 Terrapin is also yellow, and in the adult 

 rarely has any markings upon it. (Fig. 



Chrysemys picta * 



2.) Sometimes in this species, however, 

 the plastron is of a rich deep buff color, 

 and may have some central markings 

 upon it of a deeper shade. 



No difficulty is encountered in identify- 

 ing the Florida terrapin — that is, adult 

 specimens of it, for it has the smallest 

 head for its size of any other species in 

 this country, while its carapace mounds 



*The Painted Terrapin. Ventral view of a 

 male, reduced. Presented by Mr. Edward S. 

 Schmid, of Washington, D. C. Both speci- 

 mens photographed from life by the author. 



up in a dome-like fashion that is unique, 

 to say the least of it. This form of the 

 shell is not fully developed until the ani- 

 mal is adult, younger individuals having 

 the carapace much as we see it in other 

 species of the genus. Florida terrapins, 

 as a rule, have the carapace of a blackish 

 brown color, sometimes marked with 

 bars of a lighter shade. Centrally, the 

 marginal scutes present a yellowish bar, 

 but this character, too, may be quite dim. 

 Its jet black head has fine linear mark- 

 ings of pale yellow, with a strong stripe 

 of the same color running posteriorly 

 from either eye to the neck. The stripes 

 on the chin are much lighter or even 

 whitish. 



As to its habits, they probably do not 

 differ very much from those of other 

 species of the genus ; still, we stand in 

 need of some good account of these in 

 nature, as there does not seem to be any 

 such extant at the present time. 



Daphne is scarce during the winter 

 months, and not all of us find it con- 

 venient to collect the larvae of Corethra, 

 but every aquarist can provide enchy- 

 traeid worms. 



A box of any convenient size, partly 

 filled with soil, kept constantly moistened 

 with milk and water, and properly start- 

 ed with a "nest" of the white worms can 

 eventually be made to yield a gratifying 

 supply. Occasional small portions of 

 mashed potatoes, oatmeal, corn starch 

 pudding, unflavored, or bread and milk, 

 will be the needed worm-food. This 

 should be buried just below the surface. 

 A little observation will determine the 

 proper quantity and frequency of feed- 

 ing. To gather worms, lay a slice of 

 bread well moistened with milk on the 

 soil, and a few hours later they will be 

 found beneath it in little clumps, readily 

 removed with small forceps.. 



