30 REPTILES OF THE WORLD 



of a popular name often applied to the American species 

 — the Semi-Box Turtles. 



Blanding's Turtle or the Semi-Box Turtle, Emys 

 hlandingii, inhabits southern Canada and the north- 

 eastern portion of the United States. By its form alone 

 it differs from other turtles of the United States: for 

 the shell is elongated, high and globular. Most of these 

 turtles are black above, thickly speckled with j^ellow. 

 Narrow and not wider than the long, snake-like neck, the 

 head is black above and vivid lemon yellow beneath. 



In Ohio and Illinois, Blanding's Turtle is a very com- 

 mon reptile. The shell of an adult is about eight 

 inches long. After observing a large series of specimens 

 the writer is led to believe that Blanding's Turtle is 

 erratic in habits. Some specimens refuse to leave the 

 immediate vicinity of a pond or stream, where they crawl 

 out on logs and rocks to sun and tumble into the water 

 when frightened ; such examples feed on fishes, tadpoles 

 and frogs. Others wander into damp woods, where they 

 lead a practically terrestrial life, feeding on tender veg- 

 etation, berries and insects. Captive examples will take 

 their food from a tray like true tortoises, eating raw 

 beef, lettuce and celery. Incidentally, they are as quick 

 in the water as the flat-shelled terrapins and perfectly 

 at ease in swallowing their food beneath the surface. 



The European Pond Turtle, Emys orbicularis, 

 occurs abundantly in central and southern Europe, Asia 

 Minor and extreme northern Africa. Of lesser propor- 

 tions, it also has a proportionately flatter shell than the 

 American ally. Above, the color is brownish, or black 

 thickly speckled with yellow — sometimes marked with 

 radiating lines of the pale hue. On very old turtles, the 

 yellow markings fade until the shell is uniform brown 

 or blackish. The average length of a fully-grown shell 



