Norwich bulletin., 1909-11-03
NORWICH MAN TELLS OF
 COMMON SWAPPING TURTLE,
Excellent Specimen Now on Exhibition
 at Yerrington's Music Store.


 F Something cohcerniHg the habits oi l the common snapping turtle, @Chely-- | f'dra- -Serbentina,' ,'r may beSof interest te the readers of The Bulletin at this time while the fine specimen of this species remains on exhibition in the window oi Yerringtons music store
 In regard to 1t c. T. writes: The common snapping turtle is g very abundant reptile in this locality but as 1t passes most of its time along the muddy bottoms of our ponds and streams it is not seen as often as some of the other turtles.
 This species is the largest of oul fresh water turtles. Specimens are oc- easionally caught even of a larger size than the one now on exhibition, but not often, as that one is much above the average size.
 Seldom leaving the water, the snap ping turtle feeds principally on fish; 1t has most voracious appetite, how ever, and will devour almost any ani- nal matter, either alive or dead, tear ing into suitable sized pieces with its powerful jaws anything too large tc |ibe swallowed whole. As with many other species of the turtle family, the snapper is unable to swallow any food
 unless it's head is entirely under water A captive specimen would gradually starve although surrounded by its
 proper food unless it was provided
 with a tank or other receptacle con taining water of a sufficient depth tc allow the reptile to submerge it's head There Is probably no member of the turtle family that is more vicious and dangerous than the common snappins turtle. When freshly captured these reptiles will snap with lightning like rapidity at any object that annoys them. It would be very serious mat ter to- have ones hand or foot caught between the sharp edged jaws of a large specimen.
 After being in captivity for a short time the snapper becomes quite tame and seldom snaps unless much annoy ed. One should never trust creature or this kind, however, and should un- der no circumstance place ourself. in reach of the reptiles jaw The safest way to handle a snapper is to lift ii by Its tail, remembering to hold the turtle well away from ones body. During the egg-laytng season. which in this latitude comes about the sec ond week in June, the adult female snappers are frequently seen at con- siderable distance from the water. They are then seeking a suitable lo- cation to deposit their eggs, which are laid in shallow hole which the moth- CT turtle digs in the earth short dis tance from the water in which she lives. After depositing the eggs. us- ually about two dozen in number. the mother turtle carefully covers them with earth and returns to the water, paying no more attention to the eggs, which hatch several weeks later. The young turtles. which are about two inches in length, start at once for the water where they shift for themselves.
 The growth of the young turtle is very slow and it takes several years before they reach maturity.
 Last year it was the writer's privi. lege to have had in his possession for study a fair-sized specimen of the men was captured during the egg-lay ing season about 100 yards from the Spalding pond in Mohegan park.
 When it first came into the writer's possession it was a very savage crea- ture, but after being few days in captivity it grew quite gentle.
 The reptile was provided with a tank containing water deep enough to allow 1t to remain submerged if it so desired. Every other day the turtle was fed pieces of fish, and also bits of various kinds of meats. such as beef. fresh pork and the like, both raw and cooked, and it was surprising to see the amount of food this voracious reptile would devour. Raw or cooked food was equally acceptable. This specimen remained in the writers care for more than a month and was a most interesting creature.
 About all of the ponds of any size in this vicinity are the home of many specimens of the snappipg turtle. It Is in the summer months that these reptiles are most active. When the cold weather comes. they in common with the other species of fresh water turtles burrow in the muddy bottom of the lake or pond in which they live and become torpid. In this condition they hibernate until the warm days of spring. Then the creatures wake from their long winter sleep and become &C., tive once more.
 The flesh of the. common snapping turtle is much prized as an article of food, being used chiefly as a basis for soups, making a good substitute for the expensive terrapin and green tur- tie.
 The enterprise of the gentlemen who have placed this most interesting nat ural history specimen on public view is to be commended, as it gives all the opportunity of seeing and becom- ing acquainted with one of the many strange creatures of the wild that are found in our own locality.
 The turtle on exhibition was caught near Preston City and measures 1Sx14.