142 ZOOLOGY. 



bony, or horn-like covering, or shell, they are very prolific^ 

 their motions on land slow, and they are possessed of vast 

 strength. The principal food of the marine or aquatic 

 kinds, consists of moluscae, sea-worms, and weeds, those 

 that reside on land, feed on vegetables, insects, worms and 

 snails ; several species of both kinds are in great request for 

 the purposes of food. 



The other genera in the order, mostly inhabit sheltered 

 retired places, some of all the genera are sub-aquatic ; several 

 species are used as food. 



1. Testudo. Tortoise or Turtle. Bodt^ covered with a 

 bony shelly which is coated with a horny, scaly, or cori- 

 aceous integument : mouth without teeth, the upper 

 mandible closing over the lower, the edges of the man- 

 dibles are in some species furnished with tooth-like 

 processes ; feet ov fins four ; tail short. This genus is 

 divided into Tortoises, which have clawed feet, and 

 reside on land ; and Turtles, which are usually aqua- 

 tic ; these last are again divided into Marine and 

 River Turtles, the Marine species have their feet Jin- 

 shaped, and entire, and the fresh water kinds have 

 palmated feet. 



Most of this genus are natives of warm countries, but few 

 of temperate climates, and not any of cold ones ; some of each 

 kinds are used as food, and the shells of many species afford 

 (as above remarked,) the substance called Tortoise shell. 

 They are all very tenacious of life, instances having oc- 

 curred of their surviving for several days after having been 



