The St. Mary banner., 1915-08-07

two species or chelOnla
are found-the painted
turtle (Chrysemys picta)
Iubs0. ~ popularly known as the
k&Xx2I mud turtle" and the
r1 swapping turtle (Chelydra
serpentina). Both are en-
tirely aquatic In their
habits and rarely leave the water ex-
cept to lay their eggs. The painted
turtle is the more abundant and, from
Its custom OF crawling out on logs and
rocks to sun itself, is much oftener
seen. and consequently better known
than the snapper" which, though it
exists In far larger numbers than is
generally suspected. evidently finds
concealment best suited to its preda-
cious mode of life In its business it
does not pay to advertise
The swapping turtle has a very ex-
tensive range. being found over the
whole OF the United States east of the
Rockies. and as far south as Ecuador,
while to the north 1t extends probably
to 30 degrees north latitude. 1t grows
much larger than its painted" brother,
specimens with carapace length Of
two feet being sometimes taken. Be-
sides its strong, thick tail, it's chief
characteristic is its long neck. which
1t can dart out with astonishing rapid
ity to seize its prey or attack an ene-
my, and from this it gains its popular
name. Its powerful jaws, though
toothless. are bony and sharp, and are
capable of inflicting a serious wound
on the careless captor. The carapace
OF the adult animal is composed of
smooth. well defined. greenish brown
plates. The plastron and under parts
OF the animal are yellowish. Very old
individuals evidently lead sedentary
lives, and thus avoid the proverbial
opprobrium Of the rolling stone," for
their shells are often thickly coated
with moss.
On land they can walk briskly
enough on their long legs. but the
water is their real element. and they
swim easily and well, although. of
course. their lines are not designed
for speed, and they can remain sub
merged for long periods.
AS the snapper" is well able. and
always more than willing, to take
strong offensive-ever the best means
OF defense-it does not stand in need
OF capacious shell. like many of its
milder-mannered relatives, into which
to retire out Of harms way. Conse-
Quently its carapace scarcely covers
Its retracted head and folded tail.
while its cruciform plastron is narrow
and small, and leaves the under parts
undefended. The animal
generally has very unpleasant,
musty smell. and always exhibits a
most savage temper. Its favorite habi-
tat Is small. sluggish streams and
swamps. where it lies concealed in the
mud and weeds. darting out its long
neck to seize its food. It Is purely
In Its diet, and DESTROYS
large numbers Of fish and, when It can
get them, young waterfowl. On this
account we must class 1t as a decided.
ly injurious animal. although in some
places 1t is regularly used for food.
and Is said to be often seen on sale
in the markets of the southern United
States.
About the middle Of June the fe.
males leave the water at night to de.
posit their eggs. They crawl out on
some sandy beach and scrape shallow. 4
depressions in the loose,
dry surface sand In order to reach tho
0rmer layer of damp sand beneath.
On the beach l examined, these de-
pressions were about six inches deep
by fourteen or fifteen inches In d.
Ameter. The turtles seem to be rather
lastidious In their choice OF a site,
Tor they always make q number Of
these hollows before finally tunneling
into the damp sand. The tunnel. which
p the actual egg receptacle, is an oval
section about three inches by four
inches. and slopes at an angle Of 20
" 80 degrees into the damp sand
o . depth Of four or five inches. The
,ggs. which just about all this tunnel,
Ire all deposited at the same time, |
md the sand scraped over them again
md roughly heaped mp. When the |
'nest" II completed the bottom of. the |
unnel II about ten inches from the |
urfaee. The eggs Of nearly all the |
'ther chelonia are oval In outline. but |