Tin: i.i TII. m; /./: i ////:/; ) rim 



" 



and brown. The ribs are not fully nnii.il together until the animal ha* attained a rather 

 advanced 



\\"K now arrive at the Tt BTLKH, a group that can be distinguished by ninny unmistakable 

 marks. Their feet an- \.-ry long, th.i*.- () f tli- f<>n- limt>s U-in- longest, flat. -\ guided at the 

 .n.l. and often furnished with tlatt.-n-l claws. In fart, the feet are modified into I'm- ! 

 paddles. ill order t> Miit tin- habits of the-*- n-ptiles. which only fo-l tlivin---l\.-s at liotn.- 

 in tin- wat-r. ami at>- oft.'ii im-t at twa m>nn- huiKlmls of miN-< fnun tin- iifaii^t lan<l. Th-- 

 ribtt of the Turtles, insUiul <>f being united throughout tli- ii length, n> in the tortoiwa, are 

 only ui.lf, Hat, and unit>d fur part of their length, the remaining ]M>rtion.s U-intf five, and 

 1:1. Mating lik<- th<- ^j>oke of a wheel. 



OOOAKLL- 



Theae reptiles inhabit the seas of the torrid and the t'mj*rate zones, and their food in 

 mostly of a vegetable nature, consisting of various seaweeds, but there are a few species which 

 are animal feeders, and eat creatures such an molliutka, star-fi.-h. and other marine inhabitant**. 

 Several species are remarkably excellent for food, and caught in gn-.it nunilxTs for the table, 

 while others are equally useful in supplying the beautiful tnin*luc.-nt Milwtanre known by the 

 name of tortoise-shell. Their head is rather globular, and their jaws an- naked and horny, and 

 are capable of inflicting a severe wound. 



THE first example of the true Turtles is the LUTH, or LEATHKI:V Ti I:TLE (Drrmatochdyt 

 cwrtomz), so called from the soft leather-like sntatano- it h w hi<-h its shell is covered. 



This species is found in the Atlantic, PacinV. and Indian Oceans, where it grows to a very 

 large size, often weighing more than sixteen hundred pound*, and meaHurini: eiylit fet in 

 length. Being a very good swimmer, owing to the great development of the limbH, e-.|.e<-ially 

 the fore-legs, it ventures far out to sea, and is occasionally driven t.. stratum- countries. S|-<-i 

 men* of this reptile have been taken on the coast of France, and on other 

 individuals were rather large, weighing about seven or eight hundred 



