The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-19
Beware Of the Box Turtlei


guished itself among the States Of the
Union by enacting law which declared
it to be a crime, punishable by fine or
imprisonment, or both, to throw a cr7lm
of bread to an English sparrow. To
the credit OF the State be 1t recorded that
this law is no longer upon the statute
book. The Legislature of 1905, however,
has passed another, with reference to
box turtles which is little better.
Chapter $40 of the Session Laws of
this year is entitled An act to amend
the Forest, Fish and Game law in rela-
ton to the protection Of land turtles and
wild black bear 1t adds to the Forest,
Fish and Game law new section. which
reads as follows:
la LAND TrRrLEs.- Taxing. killing or ex-
posing tor sale OF all land turtles tor,oises In
Guiding the box turtle the wood turtle. Is hereby
prohibited"
A person who violates this provision
Is declared to be guilty of misdemeanor,
and in addition thereto is liable to PEN
atty OF $40. A person convicted Of
crime declared to be a misdemeanor is
punishable under the Penal Code by i'm
prisonment in a penitentiary or county
Jail for not more than one year or by
fine of not more than $500, or by both
prohibition against the killing Of land
turtles is all well enough, although the
possible punishment seems too severe;
but there is absolutely no good reason
whatever for prohibiting the taking Of
boz turtles.
The box turtle has for years been a
common pet among children familiar
with rural life in the eastern United
States. 1t has been kept as such in
country gardens and in city backyards,
where it has rendered valuable service
in its daily consumption OF snails, slugs
and the nnumerable varieties OF insect
life which prey upon cultivated plants.
We have never known an instance in
which this interesting and useful member
Of the turtle family has been treated
otherwise than with kindness while thus
in captivity. and the captivity has never
been Of such character as to constitute
cruelty. For the Legislature to say that
boys and girls shall no longer be per-
mtted to make pets Of these creatures
or learn the interesting lessons in natural
history which may be acquired almost
without effort in observing their habits
is to impose needless and inexc,sable
restriction upon the exercise Of human
power over the lower animals.
THE box tortoise says Mr.. WILLIAM
| T. HoRNADAY, director of the New York
! Geological Park, is our only genuine
tortose-living only upon land, and
never inhabiting water. 1t is common
all around New York city, and is found
even in the large northern parks, where
it inhabits the we'll shaded forests in
| situations as remote as possible from the
paths Of men, The moist valleys OF the
Geological Park have yielded many fine
specimens to the reptile house colec-
tons, where they live contentedly.
| Those readers who are unfamiliar with
its appearance will find an excellent
picture of it in Mr.. HoRNADAY's work on
American natural history.
The box turtle is not ordinarily classed
with ferocious beasts, yet he will prove
highly dangerous animal to his captors
If this new amendment to the Forest,
Fish and Game law is to be vigorously
enforced 1t is common experience to
see one OF these creatures endeavoring
to cross a woodland road in front of
carriage. so that the driver has difficulty
| in avoiding him and crushing him to
death under the hoofs of the horses or
wheels of the carriage. II under such
circumstances you stop and pick up the
rescued chelonian to take home as pet
for the children you run the risk of being
hailed before some Jealous magistrate
and sent to jail! And all the satisfaction
you will get is to be told 1T is the law"