TURTLES, TERRAPINS, AND TORTOISES 33 



on his apparent lethargy. The breeding season in the 

 Seychelles extends from January to April, when the 

 females lay their eggs in holes dug out by their hind limbs, 

 and then covered over. The eggs, which are white, round, 

 and the size of a tennis ball, vary in number from nine 

 to twenty-five. The young hatch out in from 120 to 

 130 days, and work their way out of the ground ; half the 

 eggs are usually infertile, but in some years of great 

 drought very few young appear, being apparently unable 

 to reach the surface. Their rate of growth is exceedingly 

 fast, measuring, when four years old, nearly two feet in 

 length. When twenty-five years they are said to attain 

 full growth. 



These tortoises at our Zoological Gardens hibernate 

 from the end of October to the beginning of March. 

 They are fed chiefly on cabbage, of which they consume, 

 during the hot weather, almost a bushel a week each. 

 One large Elephantine Tortoise is peculiarly untortoiselike 

 in his taste, being extremely fond of the bread and buns 

 which he receives from the visitors, whom, if provided 

 with these dainties, he will follow round his enclosure, 

 often attracting their attention by butting against the 

 railing of his paddock. 



The members of the family Chelonid^e, represented 

 by the genera Chelone and Thalassochelys, being adapted to 

 marine life, are provided with large paddle-shaped limbs, 

 provided with only one or two claws. The shell is covered 

 with horny shields. 



The Green Turtle, Chelone mydas, enjoys world-wide 

 fame, for it is from the flesh of this creature that the 



