16 COPEIA 



Placing the animal on the sand in a small clear- 

 ing, I reclined under a shrub oak to study procedure. 

 Shortly the splendid head and neck were erected and 

 held in a steady gaze. Presently a rustling was 

 heard among the dry leaves to one side, which grad- 

 ually drew nearer. Finally the upstretched neck and 

 shell of a smaller male hox turtle appeared in view 

 at the margin of the clearing 1 2 feet from the power- 

 ful specimen, which had remained absolutely motion- 

 less, but staring intensely at the new arrival. The 

 small one advanced 4 feet, then paused, then another 

 4 feet venture and another pause. At the last pause, 

 which was 4 feet from the first individual, the big fel- 

 low suddenly rushed at the new-comer with open 

 mouth and grabbed it by the nape with such force 

 as to roll it over on the side. It held the head to the 

 ground for about 2 minutes, while the victim strug- 

 gled unsuccessfully to draw its head within the shell. 

 Releasing its hold, it actually climbed over the con- 

 quered foe and walked rapidly away. It had traveled 

 10 feet when the small one hurried directly after it. 

 The leader paused every few feet in the usual manner, 

 but the other continued without halting till it was 2 

 feet in the rear. Thereafter it was very alert and 

 copied perfectly every start and pause of the leader, 

 which, evidently, was in ignorance of its shadower. I 

 watched this interesting bit of wild life for 60 feet, 

 when the head animal disappeared into thick cover, 

 leaving the rear tortoise gazing ahead in a puzzled, 

 undecided quandary. It finally turned and came di- 

 rectly by the writer, while passing about 3 feet to one 

 side. I talked loudly, whistled and sought to arrest 

 its attention by mouth, while remaining perfectly 

 motionless, but without success. However, the slight 

 raising of one arm caused the head to be drawn sud- 

 denly into the shell with alarm. 



Roy Latham, 

 Orient, N. Y. 



Edited by J. T. Nichols, American Museum of Natural History 

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