158 NATTJEAL HISTORY OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



It lives in the rivers and fresh- water ponds, preferring those of which the water is somewhat warm. 

 It grows to a very considerable size, the shell frequently measuring seven or eight inches. It is 

 said to deposit its eggs in June. "They are almost constantly for sale in the markets of San Fran- 

 cisco, and make pretty good soups, though much inferior to the Sea Turtles." They are also seen 

 in the markets in other parts of California. The species is called "El-la-chick" by the ZSTisquallies. 



The Wood Tortoise: Other species. — Chelopus insculptus, or the "Wood Tortoise," 

 which inhabits the Eastern States from Maine to Pennsylvania and west to Ohio, is a species of 

 medium size, but though available for food, it is, as far as I am aware, rarely eaten. It lives mostly 

 in ponds, but is frequently seen on land, either in search of food, or, as has been suggested, to rid 

 itself of the leeches which cling very persistently to it. The "Spotted Tortoise" or "Speckled 

 Turtle," Ohelopus guttatus, and Muhlenberg's Tortoise, Chelopus Muhlenbergi, are comparatively 

 worthless varieties. The former occurs in the Few England States and in New York, Pennsylvania, 

 and Michigan, and probably also in Ohio. The latter inhabits southern New York, New Jersey, 

 and eastern Pennsylvania. The Speckled Turtle lives in ponds and running waters, but C. Muhlen- 

 bergi is frequently found on land. Both subsist principally on an animal diet. The Speckled 

 Turtle, when feeding, uses the fore-feet in retaining the prey, in a manner reminding one of that 

 of the domestic cat. 



The genus Emts. — Only one species of this genus inhabits the United States; it has, so 

 far as I am aware, no common name. This is the Umys meleagris. It occurs in the New England 

 States and westward to Wisconsin. It is a rare animal and seldom seen, and hence little is known 

 of its habits. 



44. THE BOX TORTOISES. 



The Carolina Box Turtle. — To tbe genus Gistudo belong the Tortoises whicli have the 

 power of shutting the body and limbs within the shell, and from this peculiarity are known as 

 "Box Turtles." The most common species is Gistudo earoUna, with its Southern variety, triunguis, 

 which singularly has but three claws on the hind foot. It occurs all over the eastern United States 

 from the coast to the States on the west bank of the Mississippi Eiver. In the Southern States it 

 is known as the "Pine-barren Terrapin," and is also called "Cooter" by the negroes. It lives 

 almost entirely on land, feeding on insects and other animal matter, and also on certain kinds of 

 vegetables. 



It is said to do damage in the fields to cucumbers and other growing vegetables. In confine- 

 ment it can be readily raised on apples and other fruits. It has been sometimes kept in 

 cellars to destroy mice and rats, but it is doubtful whether so sluggish a tortoise would be able to 

 capture so nimble a rodent as a mouse. 



Another species, or perhaps only a variety of the preceding, known as Gistudo ornata, occurs 

 in the Mississippi Valley .^ 



'Although not appertaining strictly to the subject of this report, but as completing the foregoing sketch ofthe 

 Tortoises of the United States, I may be allowed to allude to the three Gopher Tortoises of the South and West. Tbe 

 Florida "Gopher," Xerobales poUiphemus, (Daudin) Cooper, inhabits the Southern States from South Carolina to Texas ; 

 Agassiz's Gopher, X. Agassizi, Cooper, is found in Southern California and Arizona; and Berlandier's Tortoise, X. Ber- 

 landieri, Agass., Southern Texas and Northeastern Mexico. All live in dry and sandy regions, and feed upon vegetable 

 matter. The eastern and western Gophers, and possibly Berlandier's Tortoise, dig deep burrows in which to dwell. 

 The Florida Gopher furnishes no inconsiderable proportion of the meat supply of many negro families in the South. 



