Beptilia and Batrachia of Wisconsin. 159 



Aromochelys, Gray. 



A. odoratus, Latreille. Musk Tortoise. 



Jaws strong; color dark with or without spots; head large with yellow 

 spots on the side; a strong musky odor is always present; plastron black and 

 yellow ; marking more or less obscured by the adhering mud. Eare. Found 

 in southern part of the state. I have found it in Walworth county. 



FAMILY TRIONYCHID.E. SOFT-SHELLED TURTLES. 



Represented by two genera and two species., 



a. " Nostria terminal, ci-escent shaped" (Jordan) : carapace -with tuber- 



cles on the anterior margins Aspidonectes. 



b. " Nostrals rather under the top of snout" (Jordan); no tubercles 



on the anterior margin of carapace Amyda. 



Aspidonectes, Wagler. 

 A. spimfer, Le Sueur. Soft-shelled Turtle. 



The habits of this animal are such that they do not need hard shells for 

 protection. Their color is not far from that of the mud of the streams in 

 which they hve. I have repeatedly passed by groups of them while dredg- 

 ing, without seeing them. My observations lead me to believe that they 

 are generally found in groups. They are found in the southern and west-, 

 ern parts of the state. Though not often met I believe them to be quite 

 common. 



Amyda, Schweigger. 



A. mutica, Le Sueur. Leathery Turtle. 



Upper parts brownish; beneath, whitish without spots; anterior margin of 

 carapace without spines or tubercles. This last character distinguishes it 

 from the last. Found in the western half of the state and more common 

 than the last, and with the same habits, though my observations lead me to 

 believe that it is not so voracious. 



ORDER LACETILIA. LIZARDS. 

 Body elongated or lacertiloid in form and covered by scales; limbs four 

 (or two) or none; top of head covered with plates; tail quite long and gen- 

 erally brittle ; ' jaws with teeth, but they are not in sockets. 



KEY TO THE FASIILIES OF LIZZARDS. 



1. Tongue squamose, thick, fleshy, emargiuate at the free extremity — free anter- 

 iorly and not protrusible; eyes medium size; eyelids scaly; scales 

 quincunciaUy arranged ; head subtriangular cephalic plates present and 

 regular Scincidce. 



1 This serves as an excellent means of defense. It is very natural for one to catch the 

 tail of a lizzard sooner than any other part because of its swiftness. The tail being very 

 brittle it is no sooner touched than it breaks off. Jordan says this is owing " to a thin, 

 unossifled, transverse septum, which traverses each vertebra." I have had them lose their 

 tails also when confined to close quarters. 



