REPTILES OF THE VICINITY OF NEW YORK CITY 137 



situated a little behind the eye and slightly above the region of 

 the ear. The species is very rare in this vicinity. An adult 

 specimen will measure four inches in length. 



Range: Southern New York, New Jersey and eastern 

 Pennsylvania. 



Local distribution: Recorded from Staten Island and the 

 Palisades of the Hudson River. Frequents shallow streams and 

 swamps. 



The Wood Turtle, Chelopus inscidptus (Figs. 42 and 43), 

 sometimes called the Wood Tortoise, is a species quite terrestrial 

 in habits. The general aspect of the carapace is 

 rough, the plates being raised in concentric rings, and Turtle 

 there is a distinct keel down the back. The color is 

 brownish above, irregularly and rather indistinctly marked with 

 yellow or light brown; the plastron is reddish yellow with a 

 blotch of black on each plate ; limbs, neck and fleshy parts 

 tinged with salmon red. The head is uniform brown. 



Although never found far from the vicinity of water, this 

 species is not a water turtle, but prefers to roam about on swampy 

 ground. In habits it resembles the Box Tortoise {Cistudo 

 Carolina), feeding largely upon vegetable matter. The Wood 

 Turtle attains fairly large dimensions, the length of an adult 

 specimen being eight inches. 



Range: The northeastern United States. 



Local distribution: General in swampy districts, but not 

 common. 



The Spotted Turtle, Chelopus gnttatus (Fig. 44), rivals the 



Painted Turtle in being the most common of the local chelonians. 



The shell is smooth and black above with numerous 



Spotted 

 round, yellow spots which vary in number on different Turtle. 



individuals. The plastron is yellow, blotched with 



black. The average length of an adult specimen is four 



inches. 



Range: IMaine to South Carolina; westward to Ohio. 



Local distribution: General and abundant. 



The Box Tortoise, Cistudo Carolina (Figs. 45, 46 and 47), is 

 a strictly terrestrial species. The plastron is provided with a 

 remarkable, practical double hinge, which is employed for pro- 



