TORTOISE. 229 



Though there is a general similarity in the external 

 conformation of this noxious and disgusting tribe, the 

 venomous class are distinguished by two large teeth, or 

 fangs, issuing from the upper jaw, and projecting beyond 

 the lower. The innoxious kind is generally thought to be 

 destitute of these instruments of destruction, and this 

 deprivation constitutes the difference between them. A 

 bag under the fang is the reservoir of the poison, and the 

 fang itself is furnished with an aperture for injecting it 

 into the wound. 



But, though serpents are almost universally disgusting 

 from their appearance, or tremendous from their bite, su- 

 perstition has converted some of them into divinities ; and 

 a few, besides, are taken under human protection for their 

 inoffensive qualities, or their service in destroying vermin. 

 It is difficult, however, for most persons not to feel a sen- 

 sation of horror at the sight of even such as are known to 

 be harmless ; and this antipathy was probably planted in 

 our nature as a guard and preservative against the dan- 

 gerous powers of the tribe. 



THE TORTOISE. 



The characters of the tortoise genus are, that the body 

 is defended by a thick shell, and furnished with a tail ; that 

 the mouth has naked mandibles, without teeth ; and that 

 there are four feet. 



Such as subsist principally in the water are usually 

 called turtles, while those that frequent the land bear ex- 

 clusively the appellation of tortoises ; but in their external 

 conformation there is little difference. 



The land-tortoise is found from one to five feet in length, 

 from the end of the snout to the extremity of the tail ; and 

 from five to eighteen inches across the back. The head 

 is small, somewhat like that of the serpent kind ; and may 

 be either protruded or concealed under the shell at plea- 

 sure : the eye has no upper lid ; the tail is long and scaly, 

 like that of the lizard ; and the exterior covering is com- 

 posed of several pieces of shell, united in the firmest and 

 most compact manner. 



