Newman, Habits of Tortoises. 133 



She scratches out footholds for the fore-feet and begins to excavate with the hind-feet, using right and 

 left feet alternately with a circular gouging movement. At intervals she pushes aside the accumulated 

 earth with the hind-feet. As the hole becomes deeper it is necessary for her to raise the anterior part of 

 the body to its full height in order to give a more nearly perpendicular thrust with the hind-feet. 



In less than forty minutes the nest is completed and she has commenced to lay her eggs, letting the 

 tail down into the narrow hole as far as possible. After depositing several eggs she arranges them with 

 the hind-feet and then rakes in some earth previously wet up with water from the accessory bladders. 

 The earth is gently packed in before any more eggs are laid. The remainder of the eggs are deposited and 

 the hole is filled up with earth and tramped down quite firmly with the knuckles of the hind-feet, right 

 and left feet being used alternately. This treading movement continues for some minutes and seems 

 to be quite thorough. Although not in any way disturbed, the tortoise left without attempting to cover 

 up the traces of scratching feet, and anyone who is familiar with the appearance of a tortoise nest would 

 have no difficulty in detecting this one. At 12.21; she turned and started for the water but was captured 

 with a landing net. The nest was examined and found to be flask-shaped with a narrow neck only an 

 inch and a half in diameter. The depth of the nest was a trifle over six inches and the diameter at the 

 bottom about three inches. 



The nest contained eighteen rather large spherical eggs of a delicate pink color and with a very thin 

 brittle shell. 



The above account is typical and differs only in minor details 

 from the other cases observed. 



Considering their high order of intelligence, they show little 

 or no judgment in the selection of nesting places. The character 

 of the soil seems to be immaterial so long as it is near the water's 

 edge. Nests were found in clay so hard packed that one could 

 scarcely break it with the fingers. One nest was made in a rock 

 pile, the eggs being dropped into crevices between rocks, and sand 

 packed around them. Several nests were made among the smaller 

 roots of a tree growing on the sandy beach, the eggs being deposited 

 between and under the roots in a very irregular fashion. The 

 majority of nests, however, were found in soft beach sand not over 

 six feet from the water. 



Agassiz says that tortoises while laying or making their nests 

 cannot be frightened away. This statement does not seem to 

 apply to Aspidonectes. Whether or not they leave their task 

 seems to depend somewhat upon the degree of completion of the 

 nest. My observations lead me to believe that they will leave on 

 the first sign of danger if surprised before the actual laying pro- 

 cess begins, but will wait to cover up the eggs more or less com- 

 pletely if surprised after laying or during the process. 



The sudderuiess of their dash for the water seems to depend on 

 whether or not they feel that they have been exposed to view. 

 I have frequently passed within a few feet of tortoises that lay 



