224 Fresh Water Aquarium 



bask in the sun, but as soon as anything un- 

 usual approaches or the slightest noise is 

 heard, down they go into the water, barely 

 leaving a ripple to indicate the spot where 

 they have disappeared. Once in the water 

 they are difficult to locate, as they are rapid 

 swimmers, scattering in all directions to hide 

 beneath stones, roots or aquatic plants, from 

 which it is difficult to dislodge them. A 

 good way to catch them in a pond is to use 

 a strong net of moderate size with a lung 

 handle, and to follow them through the veg- 

 etation, where they are somewhat hampered 

 in their escape. This turtle is perfectly 

 harmless, seldom, if ever, attempting to bite 

 in order to defend itself against undue fa- 

 miliarity. When fully grown it attains a 

 length of about ten inches. 



The Speckled Tortoise, Spotted Turtle (CJldo- 

 pus guttatus) is a very attractive turtle of 

 small size, being seldom larger than four 

 inches. The carapace is moderately convex 

 and of elliptic shape, its color varying from 



