16 



every direction. It is otherwise with those animal^ 

 whose shell is composed all of one piece, that admits 

 of no increase; which, when the tenant is too big for 

 the habitation, must burst the shell and get another : 

 but the covering of the tortoise grows larger in pro- 

 portion as the interior parts expand ; in some measure 

 resembling the growth of the human skull, which is 

 composed of a number of bones, increasing in size, in 

 proportion to the quantity of the brain. All tortoises, 

 therefore, as they never change their shell, must have 

 it formed in pieces ; and though in some these marks 

 hare not been attended to, yet doubtless they are ge- 

 neral to the whole tribe. 



It is of different magnitudes, according to its diffe- 

 rent kinds; some turtles being not above fiity pounds 

 weight, and some above eight hundred. 



The great Mediterranean turtle is the largest of the 

 turtle-kind, with which we are acquainted. It is lound 

 from five to eight feet long, and from six to nine hun- 

 dred pounds weight. 



All tortoises having small and weak feet, are qx- 

 ceeding slow in their motion. They have neither 

 tongue nor teeth, nor any offensive weapon. How 

 then can they take, how can they chew, or in any 

 degree comminute their food ? This is well provided 

 for : they break not only shells, but sometimes even 

 stones with their lins ; which by their excessive hard- 

 ness effectually supply the want of teeth. But how 

 can they defend themselves? Abundant provision is 

 made for this also. Their shells more than cover the 

 whole body, and are of so firm a texture, 'hat a load- 

 ed waggon may go over them, without any injury 

 either to the shell or the creature within it. 



Trie blood of tortoises is colder than any common 

 spring water; yet ib the beating of the heart as vigo- 

 rous as that of any animal, and the arteries as firm as 

 those or any creature. 



There is something highly remarkable in the change 

 of Tadpoles into frogs; but there is still something 



