Newman, Habits of Tortoises. 147 



In certain mossy woods near the southern end of the lake it is 

 possible during the month of June to find specimens wandering 

 about over the moss, rooting it up with their snouts and capturing 

 the insects that abound there. They spend so long periods wan- 

 dering about in this way that the skin of neck and legs becomes 

 dry and wrinkled and the weight of the body is greatly reduced. 

 They seem to be able to endure a greater degree of desiccation 

 than other species studied. 



When first captured they emit a very strong musky odor that 

 is extremely nauseating. This odor proceeds from an exudation 

 of the inguinal glands and probably serves as an efficient protec- 

 tion. Their inconspicuous color, heightened by the dense growth 

 of algae on the carapace, may also serve a protective function. 

 If seized, they hiss and open the jaws widely giving an impression 

 of fierceness that a further acquaintance belies, for they will 

 seldom bite if given the opportunity. Even when they do bite, 

 they do little damage. 



As an additional threatening measure they stretch the head 

 back over the carapace somewhat after the fashion adopted by 

 Aspidonectes, but the eyes are directed down instead of up. 

 When the head is stretched backward in this way one can readily 

 seize them by the jaws and hold the head extended from the body. 

 The open mouth and fierce attitude what might very readily 

 deceive one unless he had become acquainted with their truly 

 inoffensive and non-pugnacious character. 



They are the scavengers of the lake, feeding on all sorts of 

 material, from dead molluscs to kitchen refuse. They refuse 

 nothing that could be construed as edible. If food is placed in the 

 midst of a group, they fight over it like so many puppies over a 

 rag, pulling and jerking to the best of their ability. 



Their appetite is insatiable and indiscriminate. On one occa- 

 sion I put a living rat in an aquarium containing several musk 

 tortoises. Almost immediately three of them seized it by the 

 feet and pulled it under, thus drowning it. Before it had ceased 

 to struggle they proceeded to disembowel it and succeeded in 

 making a fairly good skeleton of it in a few hours. 



On only one occasion did I have the good fortune to observe 

 Aromochelys in the process of nesting. When I first encountered 

 the little tortoise she was digging in some soft soil, using all four 

 feet and her snout. On my approach she abandoned her work 



