2438 TORTOISES, TURTLES, AND PLESIOSAURS 



monly in waters that have a muddy bottom, not even disdaining the most malo- 

 dorous pools. As a rule, they lie in deep water, near the middle of the river or 

 swamp, although at times they show themselves on the surface, where, with out- 

 stretched neck, they will float with the current. In populated districts the least 

 sound is, however, sufficient to send them at once to the bottom, although in more 

 remote regions they are less shy. At times they may be observed at considerable 

 distances from the water, probably in search of food or of suitable spots to deposit 

 their eggs. Temminck's snapper well deserves its name, since, from the moment 

 of its escape from the egg, it commences to snap and bite at everything within its 

 reach; and an adult has been known to make a clean perforation with its powerful 

 beak through the blade of an oar half an inch in thickness. "When one of these 

 tortoises is taken into a boat, Weinland states that it will rear itself up on its hind- 

 legs, and with lightning-like speed throw itself half a yard forward to bite an oar; 

 and they have been known to inflict terrible wounds on persons who have incau- 

 tiously entered waters where they abound. In the water the movements of these 

 reptiles are more rapid than those of most of their kin, and when in pursuit of prey 

 they swim with surprising speed. Their food consists largely of fish, frogs, and 

 other water animals, and they will also frequently seize and drag down large aquatic 

 birds, more especially ducks and geese. Tame specimens, that were kept in a pond 

 in the United States, proved terrible foes to the stock of fish contained in the same. 

 The eggs, which vary from twenty to thirty in number, and are about the size of 

 those of a pigeon, are deposited on the ground near the water, and are carefully 

 covered over with leaves. In captivity these tortoises thrive well in Europe, if the 

 water be kept at a sufficiently high temperature; and a specimen of Temminck's 

 snapper, which has lived for more than thirteen years in the Brighton Aquarium, 

 grew to a length of between four and five feet from beak to tail, whereas, on its 

 arrival, it measured less than a foot. In the confined limits of a tank the move- 

 ments of this reptile were deliberate and sluggish, and gave no idea of the activity 

 characterizing the wild state. Although the flesh of the adult of this species has 

 such a strong musky flavor as to be uneatable, that of the young is stated to be 

 tender and palatable. The eggs are also sought after as articles of food; and when 

 two or three females have laid together, as many as from sixty to seventy may be 

 taken from a single nest. 



THE TURTLES 

 Family CHELONID^, 



The families mentioned up to now have their feet more or less fully adapted 

 for walking on land, and the majority of the toes furnished with well-developed 

 claws or nails, while the carapace is generally of a somewhat oval form. The true 

 turtles, on the other hand, while agreeing with the foregoing in having their shells 

 covered with horny plates, are at once distinguished by the limbs being converted 

 into flattened paddles, in which, at the most, only two of the toes are furnished 



