HAMILTON SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION. 147 



BIOLOGICAL NOTES 



'By Wiltiam Yates, Hakhley. 

 OUR NATIVE TURTLES. 



Probably one of the most ferocious of our native ChelonidcB, or 

 turtles, is the cheloiie serpeiitaria, or snapping turtle. This com- 

 mon inhabitant of our rivulets and morasses is sometimes designa- 

 ted the mossback, from the fact that parasitic vegetable growths, re- 

 sembling moss, frequently almost cover the upper part of the shell 

 of this clielone. These growths seem to take root and vegetate, 

 and to be nourished, by the circulating fluids of the turtle's body, 

 during its amphibious life in the sphagnous bogs and stagnant 

 lagoons where the quadruped or lizard finds its carnivorous food 

 and congenial home. 



This creature attains considerable size, being sometimes cap- 

 tured weighing from twelve to fifteen pounds or more. 



Where geese or ducks are bred, this dreaded, hideous-looking 

 chehne preys with savage avidity on the immature or half -grown 

 goslings or ducklings, and is consequently much dreaded and hated 

 by the breeders of that description of waterfowl. Catfish, frogs, 

 toads and snakes also afford foodstuff for this sanguinary and ag- 

 gressive gourmand. 



Their combativeness may be seen whenever a stick or such 

 like weapon is placed in contiguity to the turtle's head, for they 

 will suddenly snap thereat, fastening to it with their bony merci- 

 less jaws, and bulldog-like, refusing to relax their hold until be- 

 headed or otherwise put to death. 



Fierce battles are known to occur among rival males of this 

 genus, about breeding time in the spring months, and tlie combat 

 is said almost inyariably to terminate in the death of one gx the 



