REPTILES CHELONIANS-r-DIAGRAM 5. 



87 



Tortoise. 



CHBLONIANS. 



[ DIAGRAMS. ] 



THE TORTOISES. The tortoises are sluggish animals, which 

 look as if they were enclosed in 

 armour. This is formed by a 

 horny substance which covers bony 

 plates. It is then quite evident 

 that tortoises cannot go out of their 

 carapace. When the scales upon 

 it are torn a little, the blood runs 

 immediately. Tortoises are also 

 remarkable for their horny beak, 

 which much resembles that of birds, 

 while most other reptiles have teeth 

 like mammals. There are marine 

 tortoises, and land tortoises. 



The sea tortoises, or Turtles, sometimes reach a very large size, 

 being upwards of two yards 

 in length ; their front legs are 

 flattened, and arranged like 

 fins for swimming ; and they 

 are sometimes met with at a 

 great distance from land, 

 floating on the water. They 

 lay their eggs on desert and 

 sandy coasts. They are also 

 hunted for their flesh, which Head of Turtle. Foreleg of Turtle, 

 resembles calf s head, when cooked. To catch them, the turtle 

 fishers approach them by riight when they are on land, and turn 

 them on their backs ; they cannot turn themselves over again, 

 and are killed. 



The land tortoises are not so large, and their forelegs, instead 

 of being made for swimming, are strong, and armed with claws 



