3G4 



VERTEBIIATA. 



THE Ml'SK-TORTOISE. 



of an olivi'-Krowii or <x\vcn color; ]i:is a strono; musky odor, is very active and vigorous, and is 

 f«»iiinl ill most of the j)on<ls and ditclicsfrom Maine to Florida. Tt lias the various popular titles 

 of Musk-Tortnisc, Mvd-Tnrtle, Mud-Tcrrapii), and Stmk-Pot. Tn this species the plastron is 

 l>i valve, the anterior section only heing movable. 



THE TESTUDINIDyE OR LAND TORTOISES. 



Ill tlic-e tli(^ (•arai>ace is convex and solid, the ril)S being united together throughout their 

 length; the plastron is also solid, the feet short, stout, and somewhat clubbed, the toes being 

 almost entirely concealed under the skin, and terminated by blunt nails, of which there arc usu- 

 ally five upon each of the anterior, and four upon each of the posterior feet. The head is rather 

 sinall. and covered with shields ; the jaws are horny, and destitute of lips. The head, limbs, 

 and tail can be completely retracted within the cavity of the shell, and in some cases the plas- 

 tron is furnished with nioval)le lobes, by which the aperture can be completely closed. The 

 surface of the carapace is covered with horny shields, which touch each other at the edges, and 

 exhibit concentric lines of growth ; at the hinder part of the carapace, immediately over the 

 tail, the caudal shields whicii in the preceding tamilies are usually separate, are here united into 

 a single broad plate. The Land Tortoises are generally of small size. They are terrestrial in 

 their general habits, although most of them can swim immersed in the water. They retire to 

 holes which they find or dig in the earth, and remain in a torpid state through the winter, even 

 in climates where this season is not severe. They are very slow in their movements, and live 

 entirely upon vegetal de matter. Like the rest of the Chelonian reptiles, they are far more abund- 

 ant in warm than in temperate climates. There is no kind of tortoise in the British Islands or 

 in Ireland. 



Genus TESTUDO : Testudo. — The Common Land Tortoise of Europe, T. Grceca, is the only 

 species found in that quarter of the world, and there it is not common, except in the southern 

 parts. Its length is eight to eleven inches, and it seldom weighs over three pounds. It lives 

 on roots, fruits, and insects. The flesh is extensively used in Greece. The eggs, about five in 

 number, the size of those of a pigeon, are laid in June. The upper shell is composed of thirty- 

 six parts or plates ; it is convex, and so strong that a cart may pass over it without injuring it. 

 This species is very tenacious of life ; one kept in the garden of Lambeth Palace, near London, 

 lived to the age of one hundred and twenty years, and other cases are recorded of still greater 

 longevity. In winter, even in Avarm climates, it retires to some hole or cavern, where it remains 

 till spring, imbedded in grass, leaves, or moss. It is common around the Mediterranean, as well 

 in Africa as Asia. Forbes, in his Travels in Asia Minor, says : " Among Lycian reptiles, the 

 tortoise is the most conspicuous and abundant. The number of these animals straying about 

 the plains, and browsing on the fresh herbage in spring, astonishes the traveler. In April they 

 commence love-making. Before we were aware of the cause, we were often surprised, when 

 wandering among ruins and waste places, at hearing a noise as if some invisible geologist was 

 busily occupied close by, trimming his specimens. A search in the direction of the noise dis- 

 covered the hammer in the shape of a gentleman tortoise, who, not being gifted with vocal pow- 

 ers, endeavored to express the warmth of his affection to his lady-love by rattling his shell against I 

 her side. The ardor of the tortoise is celebrated by ^Elian. In ditches and stagnant waters the 



