THE LETTERED TORTOISE. 
9 
carapace the plates are marked with a number of radiating triangular spots, and on the plates 
which edge the shell there are lines of black. Below, the yellow generally takes a more orange 
tint, and is diversified with black marks round its edge. 
We now come to a group of Tortoises called Terrapins. 
These creatures are inhabitants of the water, and are mostly found in rivers. They are 
carnivorous in their diet, and take their food while in the water. They may be known by their 
flattened heads, covered with skin, sometimes hard, but often of a soft consistency, and their 
broad feet with the toes webbed as far as the claws. 
The Lettered Tortoise is, together with its companion, an American species of the large 
genus Emys, examples of which are found in various portions of the world, and of which 
nearly fifty species are known to zoologists. All these creatures have their heads covered with 
a thin but hard skin. 
The Lettered Terrapin is very common in Northern America, and is found in the rivers, 
ponds, lakes, or even the marshy grounds, where it can obtain an abundant supply of food. 
It is fond of reptiles, and causes great destruction among the frogs in their earlier stages of 
existence. It also has a great liking for worms, and, like the green crab of our own coasts, is 
very apt to take the fisherman’s bait, and exasperates him greatly by making him pull up 
nothing but a little Tortoise when he thought he had caught a fine fish. Regular anglers, 
therefore, bear an intense hatred to this Tortoise. 
It is easily kept in captivity, and will then feed on many substances, preferring those of 
an animal nature, and being very fond of various reptiles. It will also eat vegetable substances, 
and one of these Tortoises was fond of purslain ( Portulacea oleracea). 
In color it is very pretty, though rather variable. Generally, it is dark brown above, and 
the edges are boldly scribbled with broad scarlet marks, something like the letters of some 
strange language. Below it is yellow, and the head is yellow and black. 
vol. in.- 2. 
