The Tortoises 



BERLANDIER'S TORTOISE 



Testudo berlandieri, (Agassiz) 



This species is very distinct from the two preceding ones, 

 owing to its very broad and high carapace, which produces a 

 very globular aspect. While the upper jaw of the two former 

 species is notched, this tortoise has a book on the upper mandible. 



The shell is nearly as broad as long and is proportionately 

 high and globular. Compared with the preceding species the 

 forelimbs are narrower and the head smaller. The front lobe 

 of the plastron, which in front extends beyond the margin of 

 the upper shell, terminates in a narrower, deeply notched pro- 

 cess and is but slightly directed upward. 



Colouration, Dull brown, the centres of the shields yellow- 

 ish though this character becomes obscure with age. The plas- 

 tron is dull yellow. The fleshy parts of this tortoise, particu- 

 larly the hind limbs, are paler than with the two preceding 

 species. 



Dimensions. The measurements are of a rather small 

 specimen, from Brownsville, Texas: 



Length of Carapace 6 inches. 



Widthof <r 5f 



Heightof 3i 



Length of Plastron 6J 



Width of Plastron 4f 



Width of Forearm f 



Widthof Head ii 



Distribution. Southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. 

 Habits. Much like the preceding species. 



As the writer looks back upon his general experience with 

 living reptiles of all the orders, he considers the various species 

 of tortoises that have come under his observation to have dis- 

 played the most marked symptoms of intelligence. Among 

 all reptiles they are the most docile, and even with the huge 

 species from the Galapagos Islands and their allies from the 

 Aldabra -Islands, which creatures have power enough in their 

 great jaws to sever a man's hand at the wrist, we find the same 

 docility, combined with an intellect that approaches the mental 

 capacity of warm-blooded creatures. 



