SNAKES, TURTLES, LIZARDS, CROCODILES 261 



dark brown bordered by a band of yellow. Those on the 

 edges are marked with red. 



Snapping turtle. — This turtle (Fig. 180) is found in streams 

 and ]3onds east of the Rocky ilountains, from Canada to 

 Mexico. The sliell is too 

 small for the complete 

 retraction of the head 

 and tail, consequently it 

 defends itself with its 

 strong jaws. The snap- 

 ping tui'tle is one of our 

 largest inland turtles, 

 often attaining a length 

 of three feet. 



Soft-shelled turtle. — 

 The common soft-shelled 

 turtle is found in the 

 tributaries of the upper 

 Mississippi and in those 

 of the St. Lawrence. Its 

 toes, like those of the 

 foregoing species, are 



-,,,(, . . Fig. ISO. — Snapping turtle. 



webbed tor swmimmg 



because this turtle is distinctly aquatic. The shell is not 



completely ossified, and, moreover, is covered with a soft 



skin. 



Gopher turtle. — The gopher turtle is strictly terrestrial, 

 its toes are bound up within the clublike foot, and the 

 limbs are fitted for walldng. It is common throughout 

 the sandy pine regions of the South. The front feet are 

 flat and wide, very much like those of a mole, and each ends 

 in five strong, flat nails for digging (Fig. 181). When the 



