HAMILTON SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIA'/'ION. ]49 



of a Quaker meeting ceremonial, peaceful ecstacy as it were. If 

 the shadow of a passer-by approaches, there is an inunediate dive 

 or drop into the water}^ depths. These groups are usually com- 

 posed of individuals of various sizes — a mixed harmonious "so- 

 cial" of infantiles up to vigorous adults. 



The snapping turtle has been known to excavate a hollow for 

 its eggs in the middle of a hard clay sunbaked, but perhaps little 

 frequented, road, and the creatures seem to have some means of 

 moistening the hard dried clay, for nests of eggs have been found 

 near sunset time, where not a vestige of such an enterprise existed 

 in the morning of the same day. 



We have known some of the pioneer bush settlers to capture 

 and feed and fatten the big snapping turtle for culinary uses by 

 keeping the reptilian immersed for several weeks in a barrel partly 

 filled with sour milk or hog-swill, and they asserted that turtle 

 soup, made from these "moss-backs," was equal in flavor to the 

 "Astor House " .comestible supposed to be concocted from the 

 famed green turtle of the Cuban lagoons. 



There is another not uncominon species of terrapin which in- 

 habits dried morasses, or that seems oidy partly amphibious. If 

 has a more globular or bulging shell than the commoner one which 

 infests mill-ponds and stagnating streams. The upper half of its 

 shell is ornamented with nearly a hundred bright yellow or gold 

 colored spots about the size of a pea. 



It is affirmed by boys who amuse themselves sometimes by 

 capturing these animals, that wherever they are set at libert}'' they 

 are sure to crawl off in the shortest and most direct course to the 

 nearest pond or stream. 



CORVINE OR CROW CONGRESSES. 



These are convened every autunni in a well defined "sphere 

 of influence" or district area. In time, near to the end of the 

 month of October. On a day, when sombre skies prevail, and the 

 withering leaves in the forests are being stripped from the tree 

 branches, and whirl and eddy across the landscape. In these 



