g LECTURE VII. 



one of the most pommon is the T. Graeca of Lift* 

 nseus or Grecian Tortoise, which is supposed to 

 be a native of almost all the countries bordering 

 on the Mediterranean sea, and to be more fre- 

 quent in Greece than in other regions. It is 

 found in the scattered islands of the Archipelago, 

 and in Corsica and Sardinia. It also occurs in 

 many parts of Africa. 



In no branch of natural history have more 

 errors prevailed than in that relating to the Tor- 

 toise tribe, and more particularly with respect to 

 the true distinction of the species; the general 

 similarity being very great, and the individuals 

 occasionally varying much in size, colours, and 

 other particulars, according to the different periods 

 of their growth, and their state of perfection. 

 Their specific characters given by Linnaeus are 

 proved, from later observations, to be entirely in- 

 sufficient for the purpose of accurate distinction ; 

 and the same must be said of those in the Gme* 

 linian edition of the Systema Naturae, The de- 

 scriptions of Count de Cepede in his History of 

 Oviparous Quadrupeds, have by no means tended 

 to dispel the general obscurity, but in some in- 

 stances, have rather increased it. One observation 



