332 LAKES AND STREAMS 



winter, but it often remains in the mud at the bottom of the pool, and by the 

 middle or end of April once more returns to its summer life. Even in summer the 

 pond-tortoise lives much in concealment : during the day it is absolutely still and 

 motionless, and when surprised on land withdraws its head into its shell, and 

 with one hind-leg pushes away vigorously, and falls plump into the water like a 

 stone. As soon as it notices anything suspicious it dives, and, should it be surprised 

 at some distance from the water, it will seek to regain the spot with rapid 

 movements, and if not sufficiently quick to make good its escape will draw its head 

 and limbs within the shell. Although it does not live on the land, its movements 

 there are quicker and more dexterous than those of the land-tortoise: and when 

 lying on its back it can turn itself with ease, like all river-tortoises, with the aid 





THE POND-TORTOISE. 



of its neck and head which act as a lever in assisting its movements. It swims 

 and dives very skilfully, only the raised curve of the shell being visible above 

 water. When diving, its course is marked by a stream of air-bubbles, and on 

 coming to the surface it will steer itself dexterously in a slanting line, swimming 

 about leisurely and inhaling the air in long draughts. On the bottom it creeps 

 along without difficulty, stirring tip the earth and sand, and hiding in the mud 

 under stones or aquatic plants, or under the roots of plants on the bank. 



The pond-tortoise displays considerable agility in catching its food, which 

 consists of worms, water-insects, snails, frogs, salamanders, and larvae, as well as 

 fish and carrion. It seizes fish — which it seems to prefer as food — with its jaws 

 by the lower part of the body. and. after endeavouring to cripple them by repeated 

 bites, devours them at leisure. At times, it is said, one of these tortoises will 

 lie upon some flat stone, and catch the passing fish, striking from above, that it 



