XVIU INTRODUCTION. 



probably from the Mediterranean, and the other from the 

 American shores across the Atlantic. The former is the 

 Coriaceous Turtle, Spai^gis Coriacea, called by Merrem by 

 the specific name of Mercurialis, on account of its having 

 been in ancient times dedicated to Mercury, by whom its 

 shell was believed to have been employed in the construction 

 of the lyre. Of this species two specimens are recorded by 

 Borlase in his History of Cornwall, as having been caught in 

 the mackerel nets off that coast in July 1756, the detail of 

 which is given in the description of the species. 



I have been induced to enter thus at large into the history 

 of this tribe of reptiles, because, although we do not possess 

 any British species, there is every reason to believe that 

 several of the fresh-water species, both of Europe and of 

 North America, might be naturalized in the southern parts of 

 England. The Terrapene Europaa, the common lacustrine 

 Tortoise of the Continent, is found in Portugal, Spain, Italy, 

 and Greece, in France, and even in Prussia. These Tor- 

 toises are eaten by the inhabitants of all the countries in 

 which they are found ; and as they live principally upon small 

 fish, the air-bags of which they reject, it is said that the 

 people are wont to judge of the quantity of Tortoises to be 

 found in a lake or pond, by the number of air-bags which are 

 seen swimming on the surface of the water. . In some parts 

 they are fed upon grains, and on other nourishing food, and fat- 

 tened for the table. There are also several American species of 

 Emi/s, or fresh-water Tortoise, which will bear a greater degree 

 of cold than that of most of our winters without perishing ; and 

 it is certainly desirable that a wholesome and agreeable food, 

 like that afforded by some of these, should not be lost to us 

 if the species can be easily perpetuated and multiplied in our 

 climate. 



Of the third order of Reptiles, to which the term Lori'cata 

 has been given on account of the peculiar coat of hard mail 



