House-Bearing Reptiles. 199 



Some of these marine forms are carnivorous, living on fish, 

 mollusks and crustaceans, while others are strictly vege- 

 tarians, subsisting only on roots and the various sea-weeds. 

 The flesh of some is rich and delicious, and a favorite and 

 costly article of food, but of others it is coarse and ill- 

 flavored, and necessarily not edible. The eggs, however, 

 are always sweet, good and wholesome food. Valuable 

 articles of commerce, such as boxes, cases, knife-handles, 

 jewelry and other delicate ornaments, are made from the 

 shell, for it is susceptible of a very high polish, which brings 

 out with surprising clearness its rich brown and golden shades 

 and markings. 



Next to the sea-living turtles, come the fresh-water spe- 

 cies, which eat both animal and vegetable foods. They 

 enjoy much better than aught else a bed of soft mud, their 

 heads lifted above the surface of the stagnant water, their 

 long necks moving snake-like as they gulp in mouthful after 

 mouthful of air. They are generally gregarious in habits, 

 large numbers often being found huddled together in the sun 

 on logs or banks, close to the water, into which they quickly 

 slide upon the first intimation of danger. Timid as they are, 

 yet they will snap and bite most furiously when taken in the 

 hand. 



Salt- and fresh-water terrapins are varieties of turtle, 

 although some scientists restrict the latter term to marine 

 animals that do not hibernate, and that cannot draw their 

 head and feet inside the shell. The tortoise never goes to 

 sea they say, can draw himself within his shell, although the 

 Box Tortoise only can close the shell fast when thus with- 

 drawn, and finally, that the tortoise hibernates. Some of the 

 best and latest writers on the subject call all these animals 

 turtles, applying the name tortoise only to the familiar Box 

 Tortoise of the wood. 



Awkward as turtles appear in their box-like covering, yet 

 they can walk rapidly on land, are climbers of some note, and 

 all are able to swim. The head, neck, and legs of a turtle 



