

296 NATIMULIST'S CABINET. 



Ciuel experiments. 



prove the extreme tenacity of the vital principle 

 in this animal; and those of Rhedi, in particular, 

 are revolting to humanity and disgraceful to 

 science. In one instance he made a large open- 

 ing in the skull of a full grown tortoise, and drew 

 out all the brain, washing the cavity, so as not 

 to leave the smallest part remaining, and then, 

 with the hole open, set the animal at liberty. It 

 marched off, as he says, without seeming to have 

 received the slightest injury, save from the clos- 

 ing of its eyes, which it never afterwards opened. 

 In a short time the hole was observed to close, 

 and in about three days a complete skin covered 

 the wound: in this manner the- animal lived, 

 without the brain, for six months, walking about, 

 and still moving its limbs as it did previously to 

 the operation. 



In Greece these animals form an article of 

 food. The inhabitants also swallow the blood 

 without any culinary preparation, and are very 

 partial to the eggs, when rendered palatable by 

 boiling. In the gardens of some parts of Italy, 

 wells are formed for the purpose of burying the 

 eggs of the tortoise. These remain till the ensu- 

 ing spring, when, by the natural warmth of the 

 climate, they are hatched, and the young ones 

 come forth. The tortoises are kept in banks of 

 earth. 



The tortoise, when turned on its back, begins 

 to rock its body, gradually increasing the motion, 

 till it is enabled to turn itself completely over,. 



