Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-22
! the zoo existing species of tor

~ F the 200 existing species of tor
IL j toises known to naturalists only
W about dozen are to be found
near Washington. OF this number nine
are indigenous to the vicinity, two are
brought TO the city for commercial pur-
poses and one has been imported for
permanent exhibition at the Zoo.
When Gen. Mason made his home on
Analostan Island. more than a century
ago, that locality was known as the re-
sort of the ''soft-shelied turtle an ex-
tremely esculent variety, claimed to
surpass the green turtle for delicacy of
favor. but this species is not found
here at the present day. 1t is still
abundant. however. in the great lakes
and the Mississippi river and its tribu-
taries.
The swapping turtle-''snappers.' as
they are popularity Caled--iS plentiful
along the Potomac, and is Well known
to those who fish along the stream,
particularly above the Great Falls.
They are, as their name implies, of a
bad disposition and viii make short
work OF fingers or toes that approach
them urwariy-. Bathing in waters fire.
quented by them is often a hazardous
pastime. "Snappers" are very good to
eat and can be purchased from local
fish dealers throughout the year The
Another fresh-water tortoise, the mud
turtle, allied to the same family as the
swapping turtle, is very abundant here
This species, which is often COMPOUNDED
with the box turtle, is of no value COM
merciaily or otherwise
A genus of fresh-water tortoises well
a hn II
is the Chrysemys. There are th-ee of
these, the painted rapin' or Slid
er, The concentric tortoise and the
striped tortoise. The young of these
three species are used for aquariums
on account of their pretty coloring and
dainty forms. They are lively and
harmless little creatures, about the
size of a mans watch. They are fire.
quently seen in florists windows, swim
ming eayly IN ia nks with the goldfish
Some of these become so tame that
they viii leave the water to eat out of
ones hand.
Two other species occasionally found
here are the speckled tortoise or
lady terrapin" and the yellow bellied
tortoise
One can penetrate scarcely any dis
tance into the woods around Washing
ton. particularly where there are pine
trees, without coming upon the very
interesting box tortoise, called in the
south the pine barren terrapin." Very
often one finds them feeding upon the
red-capped mushroom known as a
''russula." which seems to be its staple
article of food when living in it's ma
tive haunts. \ curious thing about
these box tortoises is the way their
taste for food changes when they are
brought into captivity. They then show
a preference for melons, pineapples
berries and other cultivated fruits and
will scarcely touch the humble mush-
rooms which were their former means
of SuStenance.
The two species brought here for
commercial purposes are the diamond
back terrapin and the green turtle
The very name of diamond ba ck
brings to mind that luxurious dist
known as terrapin la Maryland
These come from the salt marshe.
along the Atlantic coast. They are
sold at from 81 each to SIG per dozen
They are becoming so scarce that th'
government is now conducting three
experimental stations with view tt
conserving the diamond back by mean:
of artificial propagation. Two OF thes,
terrapin pounds are in Maryland anC
one at Beaufort. N c. The cultivation
of marine and fresh-water terrapiI
has been undertaken In Japan. and il
said tn have proved ia be successful
and profitable industry.
-
The green turtles are brought her,
from the coast OF Florida, and Some o
them. Weighing as much as hundre'
pounds. are often displayed "turne,
turtis" IN front 80 the Wholesale nsi
markets The flesh and int OF then,
tNrilsn ace made iIto the fnmouh greer
tufilr soup.