158 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 
like the Crocodiles, to bask in the sun. As with the Crocodiles, however, the daytime does 
not represent the period of its greatest activity, this being during the. night. The pond- 
tortoises are highly esteemed for the table in the countries where they are indigenous. 
The True Terr.\pins are all tortoises of essentially aquatic habits, differing, however, from 
the water-frequenting Pond-tortoises, last referred to, in that they have no ligamentous hinge 
providing for the hermetical closure of the carapace apertures. The carapace and plastron, 
moreover, are firmly united by bone, so that the two form conjointly a rigid, continuous shell, 
as in that of the typical Land- 
tortoises. The terrapins are widely 
distributed, being found in North 
America, Japan, China, the Persian 
Gulf, Spain, and North-west Africa. 
Terrapin ranks highly as a table 
delicacy in the United States. The 
real D1AMOND-B.A.CKED species, how- 
ever, is now becoming very scarce, 
the supply not being equal to the 
demand, and many inferior varieties 
being substituted in its place. The 
“ fishing ” for these terrapins is 
mainly prosecuted during the autumn 
months, when the reptiles become 
dormant, and are easily discovered 
and secured by probing the mud with 
sticks. The female terrapin, or “ cow 
as it is designated, is considered the 
greater delicacy, the eggs, to the 
number of twenty or thirty, usually 
ihe giant tortotseSy like the relatively aiminuti've European 'varietieSy are essen- ... ^ 
tiai/y kerbi'vorous fouud iiiside its body, being the de 
riguciir garnishing of the dainty 
dish. The diamond-terrapin rarely exceeds a length of 7 inches; but some of the inferior 
varieties, or “ Sliders,” as they are termed, are of much larger dimensions, and may weigh 
as much as 4 lbs. 
From an aesthetic standpoint the P.\INTED Terr.\PIN undoubtedly bears the palm. Its 
smooth, depressed carapace is not more than 6 inches long, and its ground-colour is usually 
a dark olive-green, yellow lines bordering its component central shields; the small marginal 
shields are sometimes almost crimson with black markings, and the “bridge” uniting the 
carapace and plastron e.xhibits the same brilliant coloration. The soft skin of the head, neck, 
and other e.xposed parts have yellow and red bands on a brown or blackish ground-colour. 
This beautiful little terrapin, which is a special favourite for aquariums, is a native of Eastern 
North America. 
Passing the small and not peculiarly conspicuous group of the AmeriC-\N Mud-TERRAPINS, 
we arrive at the very distinctly differentiated family of the Sn.\PPERS, Snapping-TURTLES, or 
Allig.\TOR-TERR.\PINS, as they are variously called. These likewise are e.xclusively confined 
in their present-day distribution to the New World, though in former ages allied species 
inhabited Europe. The alligator-terrapins are characterised by the relatively small size of 
the carapace, within which the animal is unable to completely retract its head and limbs, as 
in the preceding types. The head is relatively large, and armed with a formidable hooked 
beak; while the tail greatly exceeds in relative length that of any of the ordinary tortoises 
or terrapins, and is scaly and crested somewhat like that of a crocodile along its upper ridge, 
and has horn}^ plates on the under-surface. Their popular name, has, in fact, been conferred 
upon these Chelonians on the strength of their presenting the aspect to no inconsiderable 
