Fishing in North Carolina. 151 



The mud or snapping (they all snap) turtle 

 is plentiful in all the rivers, creeks, mill ponds, 

 and mud puddles in this State. His head is 

 large and his body seems unable to grow to fit it. 



Before the resurrection of education, rennais- 

 ance in turtle thought, this object was com- 

 monly called "turkle," and to this day it is so- 

 called in some parts of Johnston County. 



In midland country it grows to be as big as 

 30 pounds weight of the same sort of stuff, and 

 is often caught to weigh as much as 15 pounds; 

 but as he approaches the mountains where win- 

 ters are longer and no extra fine is attached, he 

 is smaller. 



In May be explores the land in search of a 

 soft place to lay eggs ; the big she one does this 

 and she also lays the eggs ; and they usually fre- 

 quent regular routes from water to nest. A 

 likely spot having been located Mrs. Turtle will 

 place her right paw firmly on it and with left 

 fore paw and tail, Archimides around, occa- 

 sionally stopping long enough to throw out a 

 spadeful of earth. After many girations the 

 neck of the hole is completed and the paw be- 



