Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-02-25
DlAMoND-eAcK TeRRAPlN.
A Successful Virginia Farm on Which They
Are Grown.

Successful Virgins Farm on Which They
Are Grown.
The largest and most successful dia-
mond-back terrapin farm in the United
States is on Hog Island, Va, near the
village of Lewisetta The island is
situated at the mouth of Coaneyer, and
its name was suggested by the large
number of hogs which in olden days
rooted along its shores The farm.
which is at the head of small estuary
covers about two and one-half acres of
water and land. The entire space is
surrounded by a closely fitting fence
made Of pine boards, about twelve by
fourteen inches in width, which are
driven in the ground about four feet. In
order to prevent the terrapirx digging
their way out At the upper end of the
pond is a large waste gate made of cop
per wire Through four wide doors at
the lower end of the pond the water at
Coaneyer passes in and out as the tide
rises or falls At distance the farm
presents the appearance of a garden,
with its fences rising about four feet
above the marsh. Entering the inclos-
ure You will find its inside space di-
vided into four lots or pens At the up
per end of the farm is a space of marsh
land, which is used as burrow ground
for the terrapins in winter, where they
bury themselves from sight At the
lower end is found space set aside
which serves as a Matching pen. The
terrapin lays its eggs during the months
of June, July and August. June seems
to be the favorite month. The female
will leave her home in the water, creep
up the bank, and after selecting
sandy spot she will arrange her nest
She first props herself, extending her
paws or front legs firmly and taking
grip upon the earth to hold herself in
position. Then she removes the earth
with her hind feet. striking the ground
and scooping out the cavity with alter
nate blows. The top of the hole is
made about the size of silver dollar
After it has reached a sufficient depth
the female will then commence to hol-
low it out around the side, making it
about the shape of an inverted funnel.
When the nest or hole has been COM
pleted she then lays the eggs, taking
each with her foot and placing the lot
in a circle until the bottom of the hole
is covered. Then she places a1ayer of
eggs on top of those first placed. When
she has completed her duty she then re-
places the earth upon the eggs After
filing the. cavity she rises upon her hind
feet and falls down upon the earth
with her breast, thus packing the earth
solidly. This done, the female diamond
back displays mind for deception that
she would hardly be credited with by
those who are not up to her intellectual
endowments, for she crawls about over
the nest printing her foot-marks on the
ground. thus removing all traces of the
presence of a nest. The female is very
timid in laying time. and if she. finds
she is being watched she will amble off
to the water, leaving her work, and will
never return to finish it. The principal
attention is given to the terrapin In
warm weather. They require food once
day, although they can go without
food for long time They are very
fond of fish and crabs
Their feeding is sight worth see
ing" said Mr.. William Russell, better
known to the islanders as Uncle Bill
1.-The fish and crab are thrown over
board, and the terrapins soon smell the
food. They come to the surface of the
water and devour all the particles
which are given them. I have placed
fish on board and set the latter adrift
in the pond. Immediately the board
was filled with terrapins. each hustling
his neighbor for a better seat at the to
BILE" A small boat is kept within the
Enclosure to visit the deep water. With
a pair of nippers a great number of ter
rapin were found buried in the deep
water. Among those picked up Were
several which measured eight and Zine
inches They weighed from FIVE to six
and a half pounds apiece The farm Wis
tied is the property OF Charles r. Lewis,
the manager Of the Maryland & Vir-
ginia Steamship Company. The cultiva-
ton OF the diamond back was a pet
sche me with Mr.. Lewis, and he deter
mined some time ago to ascertain if the
work could not be successfully carried
out. He has invested in the project ten
thousand dollars and feels confident that
he will succeed in raising the terrapins
in paying guam titles. Chicago Tribune.