14 THE YELLOW-BELLIED TERRAPIN. 



The Wood Tortoise (Cheloptis insculpta) inhabits the States east of the Ohio, in fields 

 and woods. Its shell is keeled, its plates marked with concentric stria, and radiating lines. 

 A black spot on each scale gives characteristic marking. 



Muhlenberg's Tortoise (C. muTileiibergii) is the most circumscribed in its habitat, 

 being found only in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It is rare in those places. Its length 

 is about three and a half inches. It inhabits small brooks and streams of running water. 



The Speckled Tortoise (Ghelopus guttatus) is found in Eastern United States, and as far 

 west as Northern Indiana, where it is abundant. Its main color is black with orange spots. 

 The plastron is yellow, blotched with black. This Tortoise is a favorite pet with the small boy 

 of New England. 



Blanding's Tortoise {fflnys meleagris) inhabits the moist woods and fields in Wisconsin, 

 and eastward to the Alleghanies. Its coloration and markings are somewhat like those of the 

 latter. The shell has no keel. 



The Painted Tortoise (Chrysemys picta) is familiarly known in some quarters as the 

 Mud Turtle. It is one of the most common in the Eastern States. It is greenish-black, the 

 plates having a paler margin. The marginal plates are marked with bright red, looking much 

 as if it were freshly painted. The plastron is yellow, blotched with brown. Its length of 

 shell is about six inches. Two varieties are found respectively in Wisconsin and in Western 

 New York. 



The Mai* Turtle (Mdlacoclemmys geographicus) is singular in its markings, suggesting 

 the lines on a map, hence the name. Its locality is the Mississippi River, and northward to 

 New York. 



Lesueur's Map Turtle (M. lesueri) is yet another species, found in Wisconsin and Ohio, 

 and from thence southwest. It is much like the preceding, but grayer; the markings are 

 paler and in larger pattern. 



The Salt Marsh Turtle (M. palustris), called also Diamond-back, is of a greenish or 



dark olive color, with concentric dark stripes along the plates of both shells. It inhabits 

 along the coast from New York to Texas. It is found along the uorthern shores of Long 

 Island, where it is called Salt Water Terrapin, and is the justly prized and notable luxury of 

 epicures. It frequents low brackish or salt streams near the sea-shore, hibernating in the 

 mud. during the season, from whence it is taken in great numbers for the markets ; it is then 

 very fat. 



The Smooth Terrapin (Pseudemys terrapin) is sold in the markets as the same as the 

 preceding. It is said that the two are procured from the same localities. DeKay thinks that 

 the latter inhabits the salt and brackish waters indifferently. 



Red-bellied Terrapin {Pseudemys rugosa). This is found in the Middle States, from 

 New Jersey to Virginia. It is a handsome creature — for a reptile — and is easily distinguished 

 by its serrated jaws. As an edible it is somewhat prized. Its length is eleven inches. 



Hieroglyphic Turtle (P. hyeroglypMca). Found quite circumscribed in the Eastern 

 States. The shell is smooth, tlat, and olive brown in color, with broad, reticulated, yellowish 

 lines ; the lower is pale yellow ; the head very small ; length of shell, twelve inches. 



Yellovv-isellied Terrapin (P. truostii). This species is found in the valley of the 

 Mississippi, and northward to Illinois. Its colors are greenish-black, the side-plates having 



