101 REPTILIAN WATER TRESPASSERS. 



idea that they are inflicting pain on a fellow -creature, 

 do not kill the Hawksbill Turtles, but expose them to a 

 steady heat, sometimes by the simple process of light- 

 ing a fire on their backs. The tortoiseshell being thus 

 removed, the suffering creature is returned to the sea, 

 where it grows a fresh set of plates, though they are 

 not as good in quality as the original set. 



We now pass to an allied group of water trespassers, 

 popularly called by the collective name of Terrapins. 

 They vary much in size, some, such as the 

 Alligator Terrapin, being a full yard in length, while 

 others, like the well-known chicken-tortoise, are barely 

 six inches in length, even when the head is protruded 

 to its fullest extent. As these inhabitants of land 

 divide their time tolerably equally between land and 

 water, it is evident that their limbs must be suited 

 to either element. This is done by the simple plan of 

 narrowing and lengthening the toes of both pairs of 

 feet, and connecting them with a membrane. 



They are fairly active, both in and out of the water, 

 and, unsuitable as their structure may seem for such a 

 feat, can scramble to the top of a large stone, or even 

 make their way up the branches of a partially sub- 

 merged tree. If such a tree be cautiously approached, it 

 presents an extraordinary sight, being literally covered 

 with tortoises, packed together like herrings in a 

 barrel, or figs in a box, and having apparently about 

 as much life in them. But, if a stick be incautiously 

 snapped, or a hasty movement made, the whole 

 assemblage drop into the water, and in a few seconds 

 not a tortoise is to be seen. 



