SMALL MUD TORTOISE. 
the sides of a reddish yellow- The under side 
of the shell is differently divided from the up- 
per; and is joined to the upper part on the 
sides, having tv^o joints or hinges in it, so as 
to shut the shell up close, when the head, feet, 
&c. are drawn in. The under side is of a 
dusky colour, clouded round the extremity af 
the shell with a reddish yellow. It has a 
small dusky tail, with a sharp horny point* 
the use of which is, I believe, by turning it 
downward, in it's progression, on inclining 
muddy banks, to stop it's motion at pleasure. 
It is said, when living, to have a strong musky 
smell. I imagine, that this might be a young 
one; and that there are some of this species 
of a larger size. This has not, I believe, 
been hitherto figured or described ; except in 
the Gentleman''s Magazine for January 1758, 
where a very incorrect figure of it, Sec. is 
given ; which, I hope, is in my figure a little 
amended. It was sent from Pennsylvania, by 
Mr. Bartram, to my worthy friend Peter Col- 
linson, Esq. F. R. S. who," concludes Ed- 
wards, " is always ready and willing to oblige 
m.^ with every new subjed: he receives from 
foreign countries.'^ 
The 
