288 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Various opinions concerning the tortoise. 



THE TORTOISE. 



THERE have been the greatest diversity of 

 opinions among naturalists, in their endeavours to 

 discriminate the several species of tortoises, from 

 their general similarity in shape and conformation, 

 and their variation in size and colour, according 

 to the different periods of age and growth. 



Linnaeus, in the Systeina Naturae, enumerates 

 fifteen ppecies; but his specific characters are in- 

 sufficient for the purpose of accurate discrimina- 

 tion. The obscurity is rather increased than dis- 

 pelled by the descriptions of the Count de Ce- 

 pede, in his History of Oviparqus Quadrupeds; 

 and a confusion of synonims and references seems 

 to prevail throughout the writings of almost all 

 other authors on this subject. Hence the vari- 

 eties can hardly be distinguished by any thing 

 Xnore than the form of the head, and the colours, 

 shape, and pattern of the shell. 



The common tortoise is found in many parts, 

 of Africa, in Greece, and almost all the countries 

 bordering on the Mediterranean; also in Sardi- 

 nia, Corsica, and all the European islands of the 

 Archipelago. 



The length of its shell seldom exceeds eight or 

 nine inches, nor does it weigh in general more 

 than three pounds. The shell, which, as in most 

 of the other species, is composed of thirteen mid- 

 dle pieces, and about twenty-five marginal ones, 



