NOTE-BOOK OF A NATURALIST. 2G3 



deceive the sharp eyes of these tortoises, whose flesh is 

 considered very good for the table. If he goes out with 

 proper tackle, the sport is satisfactory enough ; but one 

 of them took the fly of a justly-celebrated singer and 

 skilful disciple of old Izaak's school, while he w^as fishing 

 for trout. He thought he had got hold of an old boat ; 

 but, unwieldy as his prize Avas, he would probably have 

 landed it if left to himself His stupid attendant, how- 

 ever, rushed forward and seized the line, which, thus de- 

 prived of the spring of the rod, could not bear the strain, 

 and the potamian got clear off. 



Islets, rocks, floating timber, or the trunks of fallen 

 trees on the banks, are the favourite places of resort to 

 which these tortoises come for repose during the night. 

 But they are very wary, and the least noise sends them 

 immediately into the water. They are troublesome cus- 

 tomers to those who are not aware of their mode of 

 attack. When they seize their prey, or are on the de- 

 fensive, they suddenly and most rapidly dart out their 

 retracted head and long neck like lightning, biting 

 most sharply, and rarely relaxing their hold till they 

 have taken the piece, into which they have fixed their 

 cutting and pertinacious bill, out. The fisherman, there- 

 fore, either cuts off their heads as soon as he has secured 

 them, or reins them up with a sort of bridle, so as to 

 prevent the dreaded bite ; and in this last state, I have 

 been told, they are often exposed alive for sale in the 

 markets. 



In the months of April or May, the sandy spots on the 

 banks of the rivers or lakes which have a good exposure 

 to the sun are sought out by the females, as the places 

 of deposit of their eggs, to the amount of some fifty or 

 sixty; and in July the young make their appearance. 

 The patience of a German is proverbial ; with the eternal 

 pipe in his mouth, he calmly follows out his subject, and 

 follows it out well ; but when we find Monsieur Lesueur 



