THE SNAPPING-TURTLE. 



BY reason of the ferocity of dis- 

 position of this curious animal, 

 the snapping-turtle (Chelydra 

 serpentina) is rather formidable, 

 not only to the smaller creatures which 

 inhabit the same localities, but also to 

 mian, its bite causing very severe wounds. 

 It is found in America from Canada to 

 Ecuador, and there are few localities 

 where it is not met with frequently. 

 Swimmers in small lakes are sometimes 

 . attacked by it, the habits of the animal 

 both in the water and on land being the 

 same. It is bold as well as fierce, often 

 suffering itself to be lifted from the 

 ground by the object which it has grasp- 

 ed rather than to let go its hold. If 

 attacked, the reptile's long reach and 

 strong jaws enable it to defeat any ordin- 

 ary foe. The elongated tail of the snap- 

 ping-turtle has given rise to the popular 

 name, alligator turtle and, being ap- 

 pended to the small, comparatively thin 

 shell, giving an elongated appearance to 

 the body, the specific name serpentina re- 

 sulted. 



When the snapper elevates itself for 

 the attack, with half-open mouth and sul- 

 len eyes, there is said to be something 

 fiery and defiant in its attitude, though 

 it is so slow and awkward in recovering 

 itself after missing its point of attack 

 that it presents a most ludicrous appear- 

 ance. These turtles are remarkably 

 strong. The elder Agassiz states that he 

 observed one bite off a piece of plank 

 more than an inch thick. They also 

 attain considerable size, being the largest 

 inland representative of the order, speci- 

 mens not infrequently exceeding three 

 feet in length. It is carnivorous in its 

 habits, and is very destructive of fish, 

 small quadrupeds, birds, and reptiles. 

 Many have been the water-fowl which 

 have ventured too close to their voraci- 

 ous enemy. Its appetite is said to be so 



great that it will even catch young alli- 

 gators, and devour them in spite of their 

 teeth and struggles. 



The flesh of the snapping-turtle is 

 delicate, tender, and of rich flavor. Every 

 fisherman knows that it will take almost 

 any kind of bait, provided it be of animal 

 substance. It, however, prefers fish, and 

 cannot resist a hook so baited. 



In the northern United States, from 

 the tenth to the twentieth of June, it has 

 been observed, the female, at early morn- 

 ing, leaves the water and crawls to a 

 sandbank, digs a small cavity with its 

 hind leg,, into which the small, round 

 eggs are deposited to the number of 

 twenty-five or thirty, when the sand is 

 drawn over them, the surface smoothed 

 down, and the animal is soon back in the 

 water, the entire operation not lasting- 

 over twenty minutes. This method is dif- 

 ferent from that of our other land turtles. 

 Nothing but sand will suit the purpose of 

 the snapping-turtle. In order to find a 

 suitable spot for the burial of her eggs, 

 the female is often forced to traverse a 

 considerable distance. The sand must be 

 quite dry and exposed to the full rays of 

 the sun. The little ones are hatched in 

 July. The young run by instinct into the 

 water. 



Remarkable stories are told of the 

 longevity of the turtle and of its tenacity 

 of life. That they live to near a century 

 is well authenticated. After the head is 

 severed from the body the head will open 

 and shut the mouth and roll the eyes. In 

 one case a stick was held between the 

 open jaws, which closed upon it with 

 violence, and kept hold of it. Meanwhile 

 the headless body was crawling on the 

 ground. 



An allied form (Matrochelys lacer- 

 tina) inhabits the tributaries of the Mex" 

 ican Gulf, extending northward in the 

 Mississippi as far as Missouri. 



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