2 9 



plates with much red ; plastron yellow or brownish ; legs 

 and tail with red lines, head with yellow lines, neck with 

 red and yellow lines. Length, eight inches. 



Eastern United States from Nova Scotia to Louisiana. 

 The western species of the genus are possibly only varieties 

 of this species. 



The most plentiful of our turtles, found indifferently in 

 ditches, ponds, streams or swamps. It is always amusing 

 to see them bask in the sun on logs, stumps or banks, in 

 long rows and of all sizes, and at the least alarm drop with 

 a slump, one after the other, into the water. 



Though wary when wild, they soon learn to take food 

 from the fingers of their captor. They are more delicate 

 than any of the other species and are kept alive over win- 

 ter with difficulty unless permitted to hibernate. The 

 young will frequently feed on the delicate leaves of aquatic 

 plants, like sagittaria and vallisneria. 



The next genus, Chelopus, is characterized by a narrow 

 alveolar surface of the jaws, a well arched carapace and 

 but slightly webbed feet. There are three species here. 



Chelopus muhlenbergi (Schweigger). 



Muhlenberg's Turtle. Mud Turtle. 



Upper jaw deeply notched and arched downward ; cara- 

 pace little keeled. Color brown with yellowish markings, 

 plastron black with yellowish blotches, an orange spot on 

 each side of the neck ; plates of back plain or concentri- 

 cally grooved. Length, four and a half inches. Occurs in 

 Southern New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It is 

 usually found in restricted localities in swampy places. 



Chelopus insculptus (Le Conte). 



Wood Tortoise. 



Upper jaw deeply notched and arched downward ; head 

 narrower below than above ; carapace keeled, plates 

 marked with concentric grooves, as if roughly cut in wood. 



