18 LECTURE VII. 



their very large and long fin-shaped feet, in which 

 are inclosed the bones of the toes ; the first and se- 

 cond alone on each foot being furnished with 

 visible or projecting claws; the rest not appearing 

 beyond the edge. The shield, as in the Land 

 Tortoises, consists of a strong bony covering, in 

 which are imbedded the ribs, and which is coated 

 externally with hard, horny plates -, in one or two 

 species much thicker than the horny covering 

 or epidermis of the land Tortoises. There is 

 however one species of Turtle, and that the 

 largest of all others, which instead of a strong 

 horny covering, has one of a leathery consistence, 

 marked over the whole surface into small angu- 

 lar subdivisions which do not take away from 

 the general smoothness of the whole : along the 

 whole upper part run five prominent ribs or lines, 

 while the under parts of the animal are bare, 

 or destitute of any lower shell, so that this animal 

 might form a distinct genus from the rest of the 

 Turtle tribe. Its colour is olive-brown, and its 

 size so great that it has been seen of the length 

 of eight feet, and of the weight of a thousand 

 pounds. It has been sometimes taken both on 

 the coast of France and England. It is found 



