2QO NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Slowness of motion. 



each other. It may likewise be in some degree 

 caused by the great weight of the shell pressing 

 OB this unfavourable position of the legs. In 

 walking, the claws of the fore-feet are rubbed 

 separately, and one after another against the 

 ground : when one of the feet is placed on the 

 ground, the inner claw first bears the weight of 

 the body, and so on along the claws in succession 

 to the outermost. The foot in this manner acts, 

 somewhat like a wheel, as if the animal wished 

 scarcely to raise its feet from the earth, and en- 

 deavoured to advance by means of a succession 

 of partial steps of its toes or claws, for the pur- 

 pose of more firmly supporting the great weight 

 of its body and shell. 



A tortoise was many years kept in a domestic 

 state in the garden belonging to the College of 

 Physicians, London. It would eat almost any 

 thing, but seemed to prefer fruits, leaves, grass, 

 corn, or bran ; however, when food fell short, it 

 would not hesitate to prey on insects, worms, or 

 snails. 



The upper part of the shell of this animal was 

 prominent, the under part flat : it was of a yel- 

 lowish ground, clouded with irregular dark spots; 

 the whole divided into many compartments, or 

 separate scales, with furrows, or creases, all 

 round, diminishing gradually, one within ano- 

 ther, to the center of each scale : the head was 

 Covered with scales of a dull yellow : the irides 



