SOFT-SHELLED TURTLE. 669 
narrow and short; shoulders broad, on a line with anterior portion of carapax; eyes 
prominent and almost vertical; cleft of mouth extending behind the eyes; shell above 
with numerous minute tuberculations or depressions. 
The young differs from the adult by having the shell lighter colored, in some nearly 
cream, its anterior margin denticulated, the costal plates not separable, and the hard 
shields of plastron not discernable. Length of carapax, 9% inches; height of carapax, 
3 inches; breadth of carapax, ¢4 inches; length of head and neck, 6 inches. 
Habitat, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Mis- 
souri, Iowa, and Montana. 
This species is said to be the most delicious and nourishing as food 
of any of the Testudinata. They may be caught with a hook, but are 
usually speared. They are abundant in all the streams flowing into the 
Ohio and Lake Erie. Dr. Kirtland observed them in calm weather float- 
ing near the surface of the water, and followed by several Black Bass. 
The statements about its ferocity vary, probably owing to its having 
been confounded with Aspidonectes ferow. 
Extralimital North American Testudinata, not previously mentioned in this work. 
Aspidonectes ( Paltypeltis, Ag.) ferox, Schweiger. 
HOLBROOK, N. A. Herp., ti, p. 11.—AgGassiz, Cont. Nat. Hist. U. S., 1, p. 401. 
Habitat, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. 
Aspidonectes asper, Agassiz. 
AGAssiZ, Cont., i, p. 405. 
Habitat, Mississippi and Louisiana. 
Aspidonectes nuchalis, Agassiz. 
AGassiZ, Cont., i, p. 506. 
Habitat, Cumberland and Upper Tennessee Rivers. 
Aspidonecies emoryit, Agassiz. 
AGaASssiZ, Cont., i, p. 407. 
. Habitat, Texas. 
Aromochelys carinatus (Gonitochelys triquetra, et minor, Ag.) Gray. 
Agassiz, Cont., Nat. Hist., U.S. p. 423.—U. S. Geolog. Surv., 100th Meridian, vol. v., 
p. 582. : 
Habitat, Missouri to Louisiana, Texas, and Arizona. 
Cinosternum sonoriense, LoConte. 
Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila , 1854, p. 1s4.—U. 8. Geolog. Surv., i00th Meridian, v., 5, 
p. 89.—Ageassiz, Cont., Nat. Hist. U. S., i, p. 428. 
Habitat, Arizona and Mexico. 
Cinosternum iniegrum, LeConte. 
Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phil., 1854, p. 183.—-AGassiz, Cont. Nat. Hist. U.S. i, p. 430. 
Habitat, Mexico. 
