136 Turtle Traits [SECOND WEEK 



portion is crushed or torn away the injured parts are 

 gradually cast off, and from the surrounding edges a new 

 covering of horn grows out. One third of the entire shell 

 has been known to be thus replaced. 



Although so slow in their locomotion and actions, 

 turtles have well-developed senses. They can see very 

 distinctly, and the power of smell is especially acute, 

 certain turtles being very discriminating in the matter of 

 food. They are also very sensitive to touch, and will 

 react to the least tap on their shells. Their hearing, how- 

 ever, is more imperfect, but as during the mating season 

 they have tiny, piping voices, this sense must be of some 

 use. 



Water tortoises can remain beneath the surface for 

 hours and even days at a time. In addition to the lungs 

 there are two small sacs near the tail which allow the 

 animal to use the oxygen in the water as an aid to breath- 

 ing. 



All turtles lay eggs, the shells of which are white and 

 generally of a parchment-like character. They are de- 

 posited in the ground or in the sand, and hatch either by 

 the warmth of the decaying vegetation or by the heat of 

 the sun. In temperate countries the eggs remain through 

 the winter, and the little turtles do not emerge until the 

 spring. The eggs of turtles are very good to eat, and 

 the oil contained in them is put to many uses. In all the 

 countries which they inhabit, young turtles have a hard 

 time of it; for thousands of them are devoured by storks, 

 alligators, and fishes. Even old turtles have many ene- 

 mies, not the least strange being jaguars, which watch for 



