178 



Habits. — This species is a thoroughly terrestrial auimal ; so much sO' 

 that the statement has been made that it never goes near the water, can 

 not endure even rain. This is a mistake, however, as I have seen the 

 tortoise in a small, shallow rivulet which it might easily have avoided. 

 On the other hand, it appeared to be enjoying the bath. Mr. Ed. 

 Hughes of Brookville tells me that he too has seen them in the water ; 

 but also that he has seen them dead in deeper water, as though they had 

 drowned. Considering the great thickness and weight of their shells it is 

 not to be thought that they can swim readily or even at all. 



These animals are entirely harmless, and when disturbed, retire within 

 the shell and submit passively to their captor. They may be regarded as 

 comparatively feeble animals, and in their thick, strong shells, which may 

 be almost hermetically closed, we see a due compensation for their indiffer- 

 ent powers of self-defense. 



The food of the box-tortoise appears to be of a mixed nature. Hol- 

 brook states that it feeds on insects, such as crickets, etc.; but he men- 

 tions LeConte's statement that they feed on fungi, such as Clavaria. Mr^ 

 Ed. Hughes of Brookville says that he dissected one and found in its 

 stomach what appeared to be vegetable matter, but no insects. Max. 

 Von Wied states (103, xxii, 6) that they greatly love cucumbers and let- 

 tuce, and do great injury to these plants. They are said to be very fond 

 of mushrooms. Holbrook further says that this tortoise may be easily 

 domesticated, and will eat whatever is offered it, as bread, potatoes,, 

 apples, etc. The notion that it will destroy mice aad serpents as food he 

 properly regards as improbable. The eggs of this species are of the usual 

 shape, oval, about an inch and a half by three-fourths of an inch. They 

 number from four to six, have a rather thin shell, and are laid about the 

 latter part of June or later. During the winter these tortoises, like all 

 others in our climate, remain buried in the earth. They appear to have 

 been favorites for persons who attempt to secure immortality of name by 

 engraving their names on terrapins' backs. From this practice something 

 has been learned of their longevity. Dr. J. Schneck of Mt. Carmel, Ills., 

 states (23, 20, 897,) that one at Albion, Ills., had had some initials en- 

 graved on it in 1824. It was found in the same vicinity in 1865, and 

 marked w^ith an additional letter. Again in 1885 it was seen within a 

 half mile of the spot where it was liberated 20 years before. All the 

 markings were quite distinct. Other cases of the kind prove that this 

 tortoise lives a long time, and furthermore that it does not wander far 

 from its early home. 



