10 



THE SALT-WATER TERRAPIN. 



sensitive to the approach of an enemy, and the first that perceives the coming danger 

 tumbles off its perch and falls into the water with a great splash that arouses the fears of 

 all its companions, who go tumbling and splashing into the water in all directions, and in 

 a few seconds not a Tortoise is to be seen where they were so plentiful before they 

 took alarm. 



The Chicken Tortoise swims well, but not rapidly, and as it passes along with its head 

 and neck elevated above the surface, it looks so like the dark water-snake of the same 

 country, that at a little distance it might readily be mistaken for that reptile. 



It is rather a small species, seldom exceeding ten inches in length. Its flesh is 

 remarkably excel lent, very tender and delicately flavored, something like that of a young 

 chicken, so that this Tortoise is in great request as an article of food, and is largely sold 

 in the markets, though not so plentifully as the common salt-water terrapin. Its color 



LETTERED TORTOISE. Bmys scripts. 



CHICKEN TORTOISE. Bmys rettcolarla. 



is dark brown above, and the plates are scribbled with yellow lines and wrinkled 

 longitudinally. The neck is long in proportion to the size of the animal, so long indeed 

 that the head and neck together are almost as long as the shell. The lower jaw is hooked 

 in front. 



AN allied species, popularly called the QUAKER TORTOISE and scientifically Emys 

 otivacect, is remarkable for the extreme length of the claws of the fore feet, the three 

 middle claws being elongated in a manner that irresistibly reminds the observer of the 

 nails belonging to a Chinese mandarin of very high rank. 



The SALT-WATER TERRAPIN is a well-known species, living in North and South 

 America, where it is in great request for the table. 



