EMYS CONCENTRICA. 
The account of the habitat of this species given by the Prince of Musi- 
gnano, is that it is found in great abundance in the United States from New 
York as far south as the Floridas, particularly in Maryland and Virginia, as 
well as in the West Indies. It delights in the neighbourhood of such marshes 
as are alternately overflowed by salt and fresh water; from which circumstance 
it is, as I am informed, called the Saltwater Terrapin. Its flesh is esteemed a 
most delicious food; and my friend Dr. Harlan, of Philadelphia, informs me 
that it is so much sought for on this account, that it has almost wholly disap¬ 
peared for a considerable distance around that city. It is considered as par¬ 
ticularly nourishing and easy of digestion for invalids. 
I have received many of this species from different parts of the United 
States, and have had during the last winter six of them hibernating at the 
bottom of a small pond in the neighbourhood of London, the whole of which 
were kindly sent me about twelve months since by Mr. Monefeldt of Charles¬ 
town, South Carolina. They remained in perfect health and activity during 
the summer and early part of the autumn, seeking their final winters retreat at 
the bottom of the water at the latter end of October. Two of these died at the 
commencement of the spring: the remaining four are now (June 1834) in 
perfect health. Some individuals which hibernated in the same situation 
during a former winter, died in the spring; but I doubt not that with care 
they may be made to bear this climate, and probably may be easily natu¬ 
ralized in the South of Europe. The Prince of Musignano has thus ex¬ 
pressed this expectation: “Ho cercato d’introduirle fra noi, e spero tuttora di 
riuscirvi.” 
\\ 
It was in an individual of this species that I ascertained the fact that a per¬ 
fect new horny plate may be formed under the old one, which it gradually 
displaces. I found that one of the anterior costal plates was loosening at the 
edges, and by watching it from time to time, observed that it became more 
and more detached, until it fell off quite whole, and apparently uninjured. 
Ihe new plate was exactly like the old one, and in a few days it could not be 
perceived that any change had taken place. 
