CLASS III. REPTILIA: ORDER 1. CHELONIA. 



365 



Fresh-Water Tortoise, Emys Caspica, is equally i)lentit'ul. In fine Aveather long rows of them 

 may be seen sunning themselves on the banks ; whence, on being alarmed, they would waddle 

 and plunge with great rapidity into the water, apparently always following a leader, who made 

 the first plunge from one end of the row." 



The IxDiAN Tortoise, T. Indica, often grows to the length of three feet. It is found extens- 

 ively in the warm parts of Asia and the Asiatic Islands. A specimen in the London Zoological 

 Gardens measured four feet four inches. This had lived seventy-seven years in a garden at Port 

 Louis, in the island of Mauritius. 



The Testudo jihriiceps, very similar to the preceding, is abundant in the Galapagos Islands. 

 Mr. Darwin says it "is very fond of water, drinking large quantities, and wallowing in the mud. 

 The larger islands alone possess springs, and these are always situated toward the central parts, 

 and at a considerable elevation. The tortoises, therefore, Avhich frequent the lower districts, 

 when thirsty are obliged to travel from a long distance. Hence broad and well-beaten paths 

 radiate in every direction from the wells even down to the sea-coast, and the Spaniards, by fol- 

 lowing them up, first discovered the watering-places. When landed at Chatham Island, I could 

 not imagine what animal traveled so methodically along the well-chosen tracks. Xear the 

 springs it was a curious spectacle to behold many of these great monsters — one set eagerly trav- 

 eling onward with outstretched necks, and another set returning, after having drunk their fill. 

 A\Tien the tortoise arrives at the spring, quite regardless of any spectator it buries its head in 

 the water above its eyes, and greedily sw'allows great mouthfuls, at the rate of about ten in a 

 minute. The inhabitants say each animal stays three or four days in the neighborhood of the 

 water, and then returns to the lower country. For some time after a visit to the springs, the 

 urinary bladder of these animals is distended witli fluid, wliicli is said gradually to decrease in 

 volume, and to become less pure. The inhabitants, when walking in the lower district, and 

 overcome with thirst, often take advantage of this circumstance by killing a tortoise, and if the 

 bladder is full, drinking its contents. In one I saw killed the fluid was quite limpid, and had 

 only a very slightly bitter taste. The inhabitants, how^ever, always drink first the water in the 

 pericardium, which is described as being best." These tortoises are exceedingly numerous in 

 these islands; their flesh is delicate and good. Mr. Darwin says it "is largely employed, both 

 fresh and salted ; and a beautifully clear oil is prepared from the fat. When a tortoise is caught, 

 the man makes a slit in the skin near its tail, so as to see inside its body, whether the fat under 

 the dorsal plate is thick. If it is not, the animal is liberated, and it is said to recover soon from 

 this strange operation." 



There are several other species of this genus in Asia, Africa, and South America. 

 Genus CISTUDA : Cistuda. — This includes the Box-Tortoises, which are distinguished by a 



very curious mechanical contriv- 

 ance. The plastron is divided cross- 

 wise into two parts, which are united 

 by a ligament, on which they turn 

 as on a hinge ; they are thus able 

 to shut in the head and the limbs. 

 ; The Common Box-Tortoise, C. 

 ' Carolina, popularly called Land- 

 Turtle and Lock-Tortoise, has a 

 shell nearly hemispherical, six 

 inches long, dark brown, beauti- 

 fully stellated with lines, dashes, 

 and confluent blotches of yellow ; these figures and colors, however, are variable in form and 

 tint. It is very timid and gentle ; feeds on fruit, insects, edible mushrooms, &c. ; common on 

 dry land ; frequently found in moist places ; never takes to the water from choice, and would be 

 drowned if immersed in it for a long time. It is sometimes kept in cellars, from an idea that it 

 drives out the rats ; Dr. De Kay put one in his cellar, and found it soon after devoured by the 

 rats. It goes into winter-quarters as early as September. Found from Canada to Florida. 



THE AMERICAN BOX-TORTOISE. 



