Reptiles 



Even in the softest ground it only excavates about an 

 inch a day, and its method of working is peculiar. 

 Instead of using its powerful fore-feet, as might be 

 guessed, it simply edges its way by a series of side-to- 

 side movements, till the soft earth covers its back. 



The European pond tortoise is an engineer with peculiar 

 methods. The female lays her eggs below ground, and in 

 the digging of a hole for their reception she displays 

 considerable ingenuity. She commences by moistening 

 the soil with water for the purpose of rendering it soft 

 and easily worked ; then she stiffens her pointed tail and, 

 using it as an awl, makes a hole in the ground. Next 

 she applies her hind legs to the work and, moving them 

 alternately, scoops up the soil till a hole is formed of 

 such a depth that her legs can reach no farther ; the 

 excavated soil she deposits at the side of the hole. Her 

 next proceeding is to deposit her eggs in the cavity she 

 has made; no jumble of eggs will meet her needs, they 

 are all carefully separated and distributed in a single 

 layer by means of her feet. The soil is replaced over the 

 eggs and battened down by the mother tortoise, a feat 

 which she accomplishes by raising her body as high as 

 her stumpy legs will permit and letting it fall upon the 

 loose earth. By this means the ground is stamped firm 

 and flat. Lastly, to allay suspicion, the tortoise scratches 

 the surface of the soil slightly and, having done so, she 

 departs and leaves her eggs to their fate. 



The giant tortoise is anything but a romantic-looking 

 individual, yet even he, despite his cold blood, has a 

 winning way with him when he goes courting. He walks 

 with slow and measured gait round and round the object 

 of his affections, stopping frequently so as to face the side 

 of her shell. Then he raises himself on high and battens 

 the under side of his shell against the upper surface of 

 hers a dozen times or more, giving vent to deep trumpet- 

 ing calls the while. This is called courtship, but the 

 resounding thumps are like the blows of a heavy mallet 



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