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Mexican Mud Turtle — Part 2
The Genus Chrysemys.--The exact standing of these turtles in the United States, as concerns the number of species, is doubtful. These terrapin are quite variable, both in the conformation of the shell and in colouration. The writer has before him a series of shells of the Cumberland Terrapin, (Chrysemys elegans). There is a degree of variation in the outlines of the carapace that might greatly confuse the novice. Some of the shells are quite high and have a tendency to be globular; others rise to a blunt apex and are surmounted by a strong keel; a few are decidedly flattened, with a blunt keel. The colouration of the series is likewise variable. Such conditions exist among most of the species. Thus it will be understood that the genus is a difficult one to describe in a popular manner. As little technical work has been done with genus, since the writings of the late Dr. Baur, there are no books of reference to aid in the comparison of various specimens. The writer has given much thought to these terrapin, and has examined fine series of most of the species, but he has encountered many troublesome problems that would take many months of investigation--and many more specimens--to solve. Following his idea to exclude technical phraseology from this work, the writer has found it a hard matter to define one species from another.
Division I. Carapace perfectly smooth and rounded without a keel and not serrated at the rear margin. Size, from 5 to 8 inches.
a. Bright red markings on upper and lower marginal shields of carapace.
Dark olive above; shields with wide, yellowish borders. Plastron immaculate yellow.
EASTERN PAINTED TERRAPIN, C. picta.