368 CHELONIA 



CHAP. 



not eat, namely, " black beetles," although they are warranted to 

 do so by the men who hawk .them in the streets. Worms, 

 slugs, etc. are often mentioned as part of their occasional diet, 

 but I am not aware that any of the hundreds which I have 

 watched have taken such creatures, in spite of every opportunity. 

 Their habits are very regular. They learn to know the geo- 

 graphy of their domain thoroughly, and the spot selected for 

 sleeping will be resorted to over and over again, be it under- 

 neath some broad leaves, under a bushy fir-tree, between a 

 cluster of wallflowers, or between some tussocks, or even in an 

 almost bare corner, the attractions of which are not at all 

 obvious. Although their mental capacities cannot possibly be 

 called brilliant, they soon learn to distinguish between different 

 persons, and they will come up to be fed ; but their memory for 

 localities is surprising. Here is only one instance. A tortoise 

 which had been put into an outhouse for hibernation was six 

 months later taken to its usual large enclosure, and in the 

 afternoon it tucked itself away on the top of a mound under 

 precisely the same low bush where it used to sleep during the 

 previous autumn. It could not see that spot from where it had 

 been put down, and it did not meander about during the day, 

 but after having enjoyed the warm sun it made straight for its 

 favourite place. Dr. Girtanner of St. Gallen in Switzerland 

 testifies to their appreciation of music. When the town-band 

 began to play on the square adjoining his garden, all his 

 tortoises crept as fast as possible towards the fence and remained 

 there motionless with heads and necks erect. When the piece 

 was finished they moved about, but when the next number 

 began they were again spellbound. This he has observed, not> 

 on one but on many occasions. That they can hear, although 

 their ears are not visible, but covered by the ordinary skin, is 

 obvious enough from the fact that during the pairing season 

 they emit feeble piping sounds. 



They are extremely fond of basking in the hot sun, some- 

 times allowing themselves to be almost baked in it, but then 

 again at other times they seem to be anxious to seek the shade. 

 They rise late and go to .bed early, being absolutely diurnal. 

 In the summer they leave their quarters when the sun is well 

 up, making for a sunny spot to graze. Then they lie still and 

 bask, unless a shower causes them to retreat under shelter. 



