TURTLES AND TORTOISES 27 



find among the members of the present genus certain 

 traits that call for a halt, that we may note the first in- 

 dications of habits that relate to those of the true 

 tortoises. Two of the species of Chelopus are able to 

 swallow their food while out of the water. Right in 

 line with this characteristic we find that the same species 

 wander away from the pool or stream in search of tender 

 shoots and berries. In conformity with such habits we 

 also observe a considerable reduction of the webbed 

 formation of the feet. 



With Chelopus the shell is flattened; the shields may 

 be smooth or contain coarse, concentric grooves. 



Largest of the species is the Wood Turtle, or Wood 

 Terrapin, C. insculptus, inliabiting eastern North 

 America. In each shield of the carapace a series of 

 concentric grooves rise in pyramidal fashion; at the rear 

 margin the shell flares upward and is strongly serrated. 

 Above the color is dull brown, with obscure yeUow mark- 

 ings ; the plastron is yellow, with a large, dark blotch in 

 most of the shields. Most characteristic is the coloration 

 of the limbs and neck, which are brick red. An eight- 

 inch shell signifies the maximvmi growth. 



Here we find a turtle that seems to be in the midst 

 of the process of adopting terrestrial habits. It often 

 wanders into swampy woods, feeding on berries, tender 

 vegetation and insect larva ; thus it may leave the water 

 for the greater part of the summer. Yet it is an ad- 

 mirable swimmer. Many individuals persistently haunt 

 the borders of streams and ponds like the typical, semi- 

 aquatic turtles and terrapins. 



The Wood Terrapin is edible and was once collected 

 in such quantities it was threatened with speedy extinc- 

 tion. Through the efforts of Madison Grant, Secretary 

 of the New York Zoological Society, a bill was passed 



