THE TORTOISE. 



Description Habits, &c. 



is of an oval form, extremely convex, and broader 

 behind than before. The middle part is of a 

 blackish brown varied with yellow. The under 

 part or belly of the shell is of a pale yellow, with 

 a broad dark line down each side, leaving the 

 middle plain. The head is not large, nor does 

 the opening of the mouth extend beyond the 

 eyes : the upper part is covered with irregulaf 

 scales. The legs are short, and the feet mode- 

 rately broad and covered with strong scales. 

 The tail, which is rather shorter than the legs, is 

 also covered with scales, but terminates in a 

 horny tip. 



This animal resides principally in burrows that 

 it forms in the ground, where it sleeps the great- 

 est part of its time, appearing abroad only a few 

 hours in the middle of the day. In the autumn 

 it hides itself for the winter, remaining torpid for 

 four or five months, and not again making its 

 appearance till the spring. About the beginning 

 of June, the female scratches a hole in some 

 warm situation, in order to deposit her eggs. 

 These are hatched in September, at which time 

 the young are about the size of a large walnut. 



The tortoise is an animal that has ever been 

 remarkable for the extreme slowness of its mo- 

 tions. This, according to La Cepede, seems 

 principally occasioned by the position of the 

 legs, which are thrown very much to the sides of 

 tUe body, and are considerably spread out 



