144 OVIPAROUS QUADRUPEDS, 



touch the ground. Thirteen fcales compofe the centre of the upper l^ell^ 

 the border has twenty-four, larger in proportion than ufual among tor- 

 toifes. The fhell is gxtd-tXy globated in form. Is more or lefs torpid, ac- 

 cording to the feafon. Quit their retreats in fpring, when the fexes feck 

 each other. L.ay in June four or five eggs, white, like thofe of the 

 pigeon, in a hole; the heat of the fun hatches them in September. 

 Never frequent the water. Is found .in mofl temperate countries. Is 

 good eating. In South- America dogs are trained to hunt tortoifes, and 

 , to bay them till the hunters arrive. 



That whofe upper fhell is very convex, and its fcales alfo, each of its 

 fcales being in a manner Jlelialed by yellow rays from its centre, where 

 is a fix-fided fpot, yellow alfo, is a curious kind. There are feveral other 

 kinds, of much the fame manners. One has its upper fhell, as it were, 

 jhagreened in the middle; fome are reddifhi fome blackifh; fome 

 have a protuberance on the head, vermilion colour and yellow. Of 

 the fmall kinds the eagles take advantage, by carrying them great heights 

 in the air j then letting them fall on the hard rocks, whereby their fliells 

 are broken, and the bird can feed on them. 



FRESH-WATER TORTOISES 



DIFFER from fea-turtles in having fmaller feet; toes more ap- 

 parent, but membraned ; five before, four behind; a tail half as 

 Jong as the body, and always extended when the creature is walking. 

 Are found in moft temperate countries in Europe, alfo in Afia, India, 

 Japan, &c. Cannot fu pport rigorous cold ; fleeps even in temperate 

 expofures ; in a hole in the earth, which is often a month's work to make. 

 Early in fpring changes this dwelling for the water, where it is fond of 

 fun-fhine; in fummer is moftly on land, where (he lays, placing her eggs 

 in a hole, covered with fand. The young fcarcely exceed half an inch in 

 length ; at maturity, are eight or nine inches long ; breadth three or four; 

 they are long ere they reach this length. Feed on fnails, and infefts 

 without wings : are very deftruftive of the fmaller fry of fifh, and even 

 bite the larger, till, weakened with lofs of blood, they become their 

 prey. Often rejeds the air-bladder of lifh ; where many of thefe are 

 feen fwimming, a tortoife may be fufpe6ted of having taken up his 



abode. 



There 



