THE TOttTOISE. 291 



Le Vaillant's account of the African tortoises. 



were of a reddish hazel, and the Jips hard and 

 corneous: the neck, the hind-legs, and tail, were 

 covered with a dull flesh-coloured skin; and the 

 outsides of the fore-legs, which were exposed 

 when the head was drawn in, were covered with 

 yellow scales. 



M. Le Vaillant observes, that, during his tra- 

 vels in Africa, near his encampment in the 

 neighbourhood of Tiger-Hoec, he found these 

 animals in great plenty. 



" The weather being cool and cloudy," says 

 he, " we marched six hours, in order to reach 

 the borders of a large pond, abounding with tor- 

 toises, of which we caught about twenty. We 

 broiled them all in the same manner, on the 

 coals, and found them excellent. They were 

 from seven to eight inches in length, and about 

 four in breadth. The shell on the back was of a 

 whitish grey colour, inclining a little to yellow: 

 when alive, they had a disagreeable smell; but 

 by roasting them, it was entirely destroyed. 



f( It is very remarkable that when the waters 

 are dried up by excessive heat, the tortoises, 

 which always seek for moisture, bury themselves 

 under the earth in proportion as the surface of it 

 becomes dry: to h'nd them it is then sufficient 

 to dig to a considerable depth, in the spot where 

 they have concealed themselves. 



" They generally remain as if asleep, and 

 never awaken, or make their appearance, until 

 the rainy season has supplied the ponds, and 



