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 Graeca, 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 JEuropaa, 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. 



