156 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 



again, or, where the ground is rocky, drops them indiscriminately in any crevice or depression 

 encountered. The eggs are white, spherical, and hard-shelled, as in all tortoises, and somewhat 

 exceed those of a hen in bulk. 



The very antithesis of the giant land-tortoises of the Galapagos Islands is the small and 

 familiar GRECIAN TORTOISE, frequently exposed for sale on hand-barrows in the London streets. 

 and acquired by the unsophisticated suburban resident as a quaint but not altogether 

 estimable garden pet. Like the majority of tortoises, this is a vegetarian, and with epicurean 

 tastes that will guide it instinctively to select your choicest lettuces and the gems of your 

 horticultural triumphs for the delectation of its fastidious appetite. The Grecian tortoise ran ly 

 exceeds 5.} inches in length, and is abundant throughout South-eastern Kuropc, Sicily, Italy, 

 and the Grecian Archipelago, extending thence to Syria. In Algeria an almost identical 

 tortoise occurs which grows to the greater length of 9 inches; while Greece produces yet a 

 third form, the so-called MARGINED TORTOISE, which attains the greater length of 1 1 inches. 

 and is distinguished by the colour of the carapace usually being black, with a small spot of 

 yellow on each shield-like plate. All three of the foregoing species are collectively imported 

 by shiploads for sale in England, and it would be interesting to know what fate befalls 



them. In Greece and Sicily they are 

 regularly placed on the market as an 

 article of food. When acclimatised in 

 Kngland, and even in their wanner native- 

 country, these Grecian tortoises bury 

 themselves in the earth and hibernate 

 during the cold winter months. 



Next to the typical Land-tint, 

 the so-called HlMil-.D T< >k I >ISK- demand 

 brief notice. The several members nf 

 this little group are deni/ens of tropical 

 Africa, and notable for the circumstance 

 that the hinder portion of their carapace- 

 is united with the anterior one by a 

 movable lig.imentous hinge. As a re>ult 

 of this peculiarity the animal, \\hen 

 retracted within its shell, can entirely 

 close up the hinder aperture. None of 

 these forms exceed a length of 9 inches. 

 In another group, distinguished by the title of BOX-TOKTOISKS, a ligamcntous hinge is 

 developed across the centre of the lower shell, or plastron, which, being freely movable with 

 relation to the upper shell, enables the animal, when retracted. t<> completely close up both 

 the anterior and posterior carapace apertures. The box tortoisi-s are natives ot the South- 

 eastern United States and Mexico, and, in addition to the foregoing structural peculiarity, 

 are distinguished by the high or vaulted contour of their carapace. In some the toes are 

 slightly webbed, and their habits are mainly carnivorous, indicating affinity with the flesh- 

 eating and essentially aquatic Terrapins. 



Between the two, however, have been intercalated a little group, known as the P\n- 

 T' >KTolsr..s, one species of which is found in Southern Kurope, and a nearly allied one in 

 North America. These pond-tortoise > are distinguished by the smooth and depicted lonn 

 of the carapace; the toe-, are fully webbed, fitting them for an aquatic life; whil. a 

 ligamentous hinge, separating the anterior and posterior mojetie^ of the plastron, enable- 

 them to cover in and protect their retracted head and limbs, after the manner ot the Mox- 

 tortoises. The carapace of the Kuropean pond-tortoise de> not exceed 7.] inches in len.;'.h. 

 and is usually dark brown or black, ornamented \\ith yellow dots >r radiating streaks. 1 his 

 ies inhabits both ponds and running water, and during the daytime creeps out on the banks. 



/*.(. h S. C. 



ill, Ihn. U'thir Rtthl.hil 



V St, 4>l,lk*r,, if firmi 



ELEPHANT-TORTOISE 



Nme ike imall axe of the head -uiitli relation la the huge car a fact 



