32 REPTILES OF THE WORLD 



eyes and a concave area on the central portion of the 

 lower shell. This species inhabits the northeastern 

 United States, east of the Mississippi River and as far 

 south as South Carolina. An average-sized specimen 

 has a shell 5% inches long, 414 inches wide and 3 inches 

 high. 



From the cultivated areas the Box Turtle is rapidly 

 disapjjearing. It inliabits dry woods, hiding under low, 

 thick bushes at night or during rainy weather. When 

 abroad it hunts for berries, tender shoots, earthworms 

 and insects. During the blackberry season the man- 

 dibles and front feet of most specimens are much stained 

 with the juices. Wild turtles are very timid. When 

 picked up they close the lobes of the plastron tightly. 

 Thus securel}^ encased the reptile remains as long as 

 disturbed and if carried about by the collector will show 

 little signs of life for hours, except a slight release of the 

 front plastral lobe to facilitate breathing. 



Kept as pets. Box Turtles become so tame they will 

 take food from the hand and it is hard to induce them 

 to close the box-like shell ; in many instances they get so 

 fat it would be impossible for them to do so. In this 

 condition a turtle may become frightened and in closing 

 one-half of the plastron forces the fleshy parts from the 

 other, and vice versa, with ludicrous results in the case 

 with a timid specimen. The writer's turtles would take 

 a variety of food. All were particularly fond of earth- 

 worms. Raw meat, lettuce, celery, and the leaves of 

 clover as well as the blossoms, were also eaten — besides 

 various kinds of fruit. Frogs and salamanders were not 

 safe in the vivarium, as they were invariably attacked 

 and partially eaten. One turtle was seen to eat a slug, 

 which slimy creature caused the reptile considerable 

 trouble, causing it to rub its smeared mandibles on the 



