New York Zoological Society. 
BOX TURTLE ( Terrapene Carolina ). Length: 5 inches. Range: Eastern United 
States except Florida. 
Miss Marion Bush, quoted by Ditmars in his excellent review of the species, 
wrote: 
“As to the time of day at which the eggs are laid:—The female comes 
to select a place about six o’clock in the evening, at a time when turtles 
have generally retired for the night. My theory is that the hour is chosen 
in order that she may be free from interruption, as the male turtle is a 
most ardent and inconsiderate wooer, apparently ready to mate at any 
season of the year.” 
The top shell of the common box turtle is brown or black and spotted 
with orange, red or yellow, while the bottom shell, also brown or black, is 
spotted with yellow. The hind feet generally have only four toes, each 
being clawed and partially webbed. 
A great many people have used the lower shells of turtles as a place 
to carve their initials, for box turtles have been known to live from thirty 
to sixty years. One turtle, according to Flower, attained the venerable age 
183 
