The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-02-28
! CONNECTICUT TUBTLES.
Dr. E. J. McNight Talks About Them E
 fora tIta Natural Scianca Sociatv

Dr. E. J. McNight Talks About Them Be-
 fore the Natural Science Society.
 An informal talk on the turtles of Connecticut was given February 27 be-
 fore the geological section of the Hart ford Society of Natural Sciences by pr.
 E. J. Mcknight. The doctor brought several specimens from his complete collection of the various species of the reptile to illustrate the talk. The tur- tie is of two distinct varieties, the land and the water animal The land ani- mal has a high-arched and roomy shell in order to accommodate it's lungs, which are larger than those of the water tur- tie, which Is characterized by shell with lower arch and with more ex- posed unossified portions of the body underneath to aid in the absorption of oxygen from the water The shell of the turtle is of three layers, the ossified, the outer skin, which shows the beauti- ful markings, and the scale shaped sec tions that enter into it's contour, the gelatinous substrature and the true skeleton, vertebrae and the ribs of the animal all of which enclose the vital portion and the flesh of the animal.
 The turtle is of slow respiration and it's breathing, which cannot be accom- panied by the expansion of the ribs as in other animals, is accomplished by swallowing air, which process is facili- tated by the use of its broad tongre. It has a very smooth nose and little, if any, sense of smell. Its eyes are we'll developed, more so than the eyes of any other reptile, and it's mouth is shaped so that 1t forms a very good beak, like that of bird, which is pseful in the cutting up and chewing of it's food. The land turtle will drown in water, while the water turtle can, and often does, live on land for months at time, to protect itself from a parasite that fastens upon it in the water The tur- tie lays it's eggs in June and the young are matched in October. It is a very shy animal and some varieties are not easily captured.
 In the collection Dr. Mcknight ex- hibited there was a beautifully marked box turtle of light yellow color with black pencilings which he found in El- lington some years ago. Upon the un- der section of the shell was the mark "1827 D. w." Upon investigation it was found that David Vinton had sold land within half a mile of the spot where the turtle was found in 1928 This fixes the date of the marking of the turtle, and it is very likely that it was an old Hand bird" at that time This particular turtle was undoubtedly much over one hundred years old and his eye was not dimmen nor his natural force abated when Dr. Mcknight found him. It was remarked by the doctor that box turtles are always about the same size, and that there is no record of a young ever having been seen. A box turtle he kept in his room while in col leg was induced to eat while in captiv- ity and would respond to a scratch on it's neck by running out it's head indi- eating it's pleasure.
 The snapping turtle, the spotted tur- tie, the common mud turtle, the paint ed turtle and the "stinkpot" or musk turtle were all exhibited. The latter va- riety had been supposed to be rare in this state, but recently it had been found in many localities. It is very shy in it's habits, covering itself with vege- tation and resembling a moss covered stone while on the bottom of stream. IL emits pungent muck-llke odor.