Newman, Habits of Tortoises. 135 



but have been able to distinguish the eggs of one nest from those 

 of another by the size, shape and stage of development of the dif- 

 ferent sets. 



By counting the eggs in many isolated nests and in the oviducts 

 of many females caught before nesting or while excavating their 

 nests, I have been able to determine that the number of eggs laid 

 at one time varies from nine to about twenty-four, averaging about 

 eighteen. 



On one occasion I found on the "old road" a nest containing 

 nine small ellipsoidal eggs and contiguous with these twenty-three 

 large spherical eggs of much fresher color and evidently more 

 recently laid. This nest was unquestionably a double one made 

 by a very large specimen over or overlapping that of a very small 

 specimen. It is interesting to note that the youngest females lay 

 the fewest and smallest eggs, and that such eggs have a tendency 

 to be ellipsoidal in shape. Another interesting fact is that the eggs 

 are so delicately oriented that they fail to develop if turned over 

 after they are laid. 



Behavior in Captivity. — Extreme sullenness characterizes the 

 behavior of Aspidonectes while in confinement. If kept in a room 

 they hide behind the furniture and remain motionless for hours 

 and almost days. When put in aquatic enclosures they imme- 

 diately bury themselves in the mud and seem to remain there for 

 months. Nothing will induce them to eat or to take any interest 

 in their surroundings. If caught while making their nest, they 

 are sometimes forced to lay the eggs, but never make a nest in 

 confinement. The eggs are simply dropped about on land or in 

 the water and are usually crushed when found. None of their 

 normal characteristics are in evidence and it would be a waste of 

 time to attempt to draw conclusions about their disposition or 

 intelligence from their actions m captivity. 



Behavior of the Toung. — In many respects the behavior of 

 young and half-grown specimens shows marked differences from 

 that of the adults. They are not likely to display when captured 

 the fierce and sullen traits so characteristic of adults. On two 

 occasions I succeeded in. taming specimens four or five inches in 

 carapace length so that they would allow their heads to be 

 scratched without snapping. They will also lie quietly in the 

 hand, apparently enjoying its warmth. 



On several occasions I found recently hatched young lying in 



