16 CHELONIAD.E. 



Ft. In. Lines. 

 Length of the hinder-paddles . . .12 



Breadth of the hinder-paddles . . 8 8 



Length of tail . . . . .039 



Supposing the neck to have been eight inches, the upper 

 shell would have been nearly six feet and a half in length. 



Although such is the meagre total of our claim to indige- 

 nous species of the Testudinata, there appears to be no ob- 

 vious reason why many of the land and fresh-water species 

 should not be naturalized, or at least bred in a domesticated 

 state, in our southern counties. Every one knows that the 

 Testudo Graca, or common land Tortoise, will live for a 

 great number of years in this country without any particular 

 care ; nor do I doubt that the common fresh- water species of 

 Europe, Terrapene Europaa^ might be readily introduced 

 here, as well as several species of Emys from the United 

 States. They would probably require some little attention 

 for the first few winters ; but I doubt not they may in a 

 short time be completely acclimated. 



