Terrapin

Terrapin, the popular name of many species of fresh-water and tidal-water tortoises of the family Emydidae, natives of tropical and the warmer temperate countries. About twenty fresh-water species are found in the United States. But the terrapin par excellence is the Malacoclemmys palustris, the diamond-back salt-water terrapin, highly prized as a delicacy for the table. It is caught in salt marshes along the coast from New England to Texas, the finest being, however, those of the Massachusetts and the northern coasts. At their best terrapin vary in price from 10 to 55 a dozen, according to size and quality. Another species is M. geographicus, with peculiar map-like markings; and there are several species of Pseudemys. 'Brer Tarrypin' is an intelligent and genial interlocutor in many of the beast stories of Uncle Remus. See TORTOISE.