i 2 



THE BOX TORTOISE. 



This species belongs to America, and is found spread over the whole of the North- 

 ern States. It is very plentiful in the localities which it favors, and although so small 

 a creature, is able by means of its wonderful organization to protect itself against 

 almost every foe. Many of the Tortoises can withdraw their limbs and head into their 

 shell, leaving open, however, the apertures through which this movement is achieved. 

 so that the animal might be killed or hooked out by a persevering foe, such as the 

 jaguar, which is known to attack turtles, insinuate its lithe paw within the shell, and 

 scoop out the inhabitant with its sharp curved claws. 



But in those instances where the animal has the power of closing the opening through 

 which the legs, tail, and head protrude, there is hardly any mode of getting at the flesh 

 without breaking the shell, a feat beyond the power of any animal, except perhaps an 

 elephant, to perform. Certain birds, it is said, are clever enough to soar to a great 

 height with the Tortoise, and break the shell by letting it fall upon a convenient rock, 

 but this story does not seem to be very strongly attested. Several species possess this 



BOX TORTOISE. Clstuda Carolina. 



valuable capability, but none to so perfect a degree as the Box Tortoise, which, accord- 

 ing to the Rev. Sydney Smith's felicitous summary, need fear no enemy except man 

 and the boa constrictor, the former taking him home and roasting him, and the latter 

 swallowing him entire and consuming him slowly in its interior, as the Court of Chan- 

 cery does a large estate. 



With regard to this curious propensity, it is evident that there is some analogy 

 between these Tortoises and certain mammalia, which are also able to withdraw them- 

 selves within the protection of certain armor with which they are furnished. In the 

 case of the hedgehog the animal assumes more of an offensive than a defensive character, 

 and relies, not on an impenetrable covering, for the skin is sof I, and a pointed weapon 

 can find an easy entrance between the spines, but on the bristly array of bayonet-like 

 spikes that protrude their threatening points in every direction, and bid a tacit defiance 

 to the foe. 



The scale-covered manis again, although guarded with successive layers of broad, 

 horny plates, is, in point of fact, less protected when rolled up than when walking 

 quietly along ; for when at rest, the scales overlap each other like the tiles of a house, 

 so that any weapon would glance aside, but when curled up the scales are erected and 

 leave a passage for the arrow or the spear between them. 



