Cagle (1954:181) wrote that softshells "inhabit the extreme headwaters and smaller tributaries." Other statements in the literature indicate the variety in kinds of habitat. In Louisiana, Beyer (1900:44) mentioned _spinifer_ as abundant "in all inland waters, preferring, however, such bayous which have sloping and sandy banks upon which they are fond of sunning themselves." Viosca (1923:41) reported soft-shelled turtles as characteristic "of the large silt-bearing rivers ... such as the Pearl, Amite, Mississippi and Atchafalaya." Cagle and Chaney (1950:386) wrote that _spinifer_ in Louisiana was found in greatest abundance in streams having some current, but that individuals were also common in quiet areas; the habitats recorded were: False River--a lake of clear water supporting an abundance of submerged vegetation, the shallow ends having mats of water hyacinth; Lakes Iatt and Bistineau--cypress swamps having clear or muddy water; Caddo Lake--a large lake having a light oil film on the surface of the water, and vegetation toward the shore consisting of cattails, water lilies and water hyacinths, and along the bank of cypress and willow trees; Caddo Lake Spillway--muddy with swift current; Sabine River--swift current, traps set in quieter backwater areas or near cypress logs in river; Lacassine Refuge--traps set in inlets and coves of ship channel having vegetation of water hyacinth, alligator grass, and along bank, saw grass, cypress knees and snags. Stejneger (1944:59) reported _spinifer_ taken in barrow pits in Mississippi. In Southern Illinois, Cagle (1942:160) recorded _spinifer_ in drainage ditches (normally having several feet of water and a lush growth of aquatic vegetation) that connect inland swamps to the Mississippi flood-plain but dry up periodically, and in Elkville Lake, an artificial lake having much aquatic vegetation in shallow areas (_op. cit._:157). Myers (1927:339) recorded a _spinifer_ from Indiana from a "tiny brook." In east-central Illinois P. W. Smith (1947:39) recorded _spinifer_ in mud-bottomed dredge ditches, lakes, ponds, small streams and rivers, whereas _muticus_ was found to prefer rivers having clean, sandy bottoms and was not taken from lakes or small streams. This restriction in habitat preference of _muticus_ is again emphasized by Smith and Minton (1957:346) who wrote that in Illinois and Indiana, _muticus_ "generally avoids lakes and minor streams." Weed (1923:48), however, recorded _muticus_ (and _spinifer_) from Meredosia Bay, Illinois, presumably a broad, shallow, muddy ox-bow lake of the Illinois River.