The Tortoises 



the carapace. They are pronounced on very young specimens. 

 The plastron is uniform, dull yellow. The skin of the limbs 

 is a dull brown or gray; that of the head is darker. The eyes 

 are dark and bead-like. 



Dimensions. The measurements given are of an adult, 

 female specimen, from Marion County, Florida: 



Length of Carapace 1 1 * inches 



Widthof 8 



Length of Plastron 1 1 * 



Widthof " 7* 



Width of Forearm 2 



Width of Head 2 



The weight of a specimen showing the preceding dimensions 

 these representing one of fairly large size would be about 

 nine pounds. From the measurements, it will be seen that 

 the length of the shell is considerably in excess of the width. 

 This character is important in distinguishing the species from 

 Berlandier's Tortoise, which extends into the former's habitat, 

 in the western portion. 



Distribution. South Carolina to Florida (including both 

 states) and westward into western Texas. 



Habits. In this reptile we have a typical example of the 

 true tortoise a terrestrial, slow-going, herbivorous, and, in 

 proportion to its size, wonderfully strong creature. While 

 lacking in agility as compared with the turtles, the Tortoises 

 exhibit considerably more intelligence than the former. 



The Gopher Tortoise is most abundant in dry, sandy 

 areas, where it burrows long tunnels in which to retreat. 

 The writer made several trips into areas frequented by these 

 reptiles. One region in particular, he well remembers. It 

 was a great, barren stretch of sandy country in Hampton 

 County, South Carolina. This region was known as the 

 "sand hills" and was quite useless for agricultural pur- 

 poses. Over this gently undulating waste was scattered a 

 sparse growth of scrub oak, wire grass, and isolated, stunted 

 weeds. "During the middle of the day, the heat upon this 

 miniature desert was almost unendurable for a man. At 

 such times the Tortoises were usually secreted in their burrows. 

 They were found prowling during the very early morning, or 

 on cloudy days. Their burrows were quite numerous. Eight 



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