COMMON LAND TORTOISE. Teitiulo Grceca. 



very gradually, until it could fix the claws of the other hind foot into the thick carpet- 

 work of the stool. A few such steps would bring it to the top of the stool, when it would 

 fall down flat, crawl close to the fender, and there lie motionless. If it were taken off 

 twenty times a day, and carried to the other end of the room, it would always be found in 

 its favourite resort in a few minutes. 



This Tortoise had a curious kind of voice, not unlike the mewing of a little kittea 

 The Common Tortoise is known to live to a great age, and an interesting account of one 

 of these animals may be found in White's " Selborne." 



To this genus belongs a very large species, worthy of a passing description. This is 

 the great INDIAN TORTOISE (Testudo Indica], a native of the Galapagos. This species is 

 also known scientifically by the name of Testudo planiceps. Mr. Darwin writes as follows 

 of this animal and its habits : " The Tortoise is very fond of water, drinking large 

 quantities, and wallowing in the mud. The larger islands alone produce springs, and 

 these are always situated toward the central parts, and at a considerable elevation. Hence 

 broad and well-beaten paths radiate in every direction from the wells, even down to the 

 sea-coast ; and the Spaniards, by following them up, first discovered the watering-places. 



When landed at Chatham Island, I could not imagine what animal travelled so 

 methodically along the well-beaten tracks. Near the springs it was a curious spectacle to 

 behold many of these great monsters, one set eagerly travelling onwards with outstretched 

 necks, and another set returning, after having drunk their fill. When the Tortoise arrives 

 at the spring, quite regardless of any spectator, it buries its head in the water above its 

 eyes, and greedily swallows great mouthfuls, at the rate of about ten in a minute. The 

 inhabitants say each animal stays three or four days in the neighbourhood of the water, 

 and then returns to the lower country. 



For some time after a visit to the springs the. bladder is distended with fluid, which is 

 said gradually to decrease in volume, and to become less pure. The inhabitants, when 

 walking in the lower districts, and overcome with thirst, often take advantage of this 

 circumstance by killing a Tortoise, and, if the bladder is full, drinking the contents. In 

 one I saw killed, the fluid was quite limpid, and had only a very slightly bitter taste. 



