1596 The Zoologist — March, 1869. 



a posterior, opening; but in other genera the head and legs are 

 always protruded and cannot be withdrawn. The bony case or shell 

 is covered and inclosed by an indurated articulated sliin, well known 

 in some species under the name of tortoiseshcll. 



No species of this order now occurs in England or its seas. 

 Formerly a species, still sufficiently abundant on the Continent, Emys 

 lutaria, appears to have inhabited the broads of Norfolk, and recently 

 a single example of the same species has once been found alive in 

 an English caual. I therefore think it desirable to cite the description 

 from Lord Clermont's most admirable work on the quadrupeds and 

 reptiles of Europe, and also the two passages which refer to the sub- 

 ject as regards Britain. 



Freshwater Tortoise, Emys lutaria. 



" Carapace wide, oval, more or less depressed ; black, marked with 

 yellow spots, varying in distance from each other, but arranged like 

 rays, extending from the centres of the plates to their circumferences ; 

 the neck-])late is small ; the plastron is attached to the carapace by a 

 cartilage, and is movable before and behind; the tail is rather long, 

 rounded and ending in a point ; it is always shorter and thicker at its 

 base in the males than in the females. Entire length from 9 to 

 11 inches. Lives in lakes and marshes, remaining generally buried 

 in the mud : as winter approaches it comes to land, and passes that 

 season in a state of torpor, liidden in some hole. The female lays her 

 eggs in a dry place, but close to the water ; they are white, marbled 

 with ash-gray. This tortoise is widely spread over Europe, being 

 found in Greece, Italy and its islands, the South of France, Hungary, 

 Germany as far north as Prussia, the Crimea and shores of the Caspian 

 Sea. In most of these countries the flesh is eaten (though not much 

 esteemed) by the natives." — Lord Clermont. 



This extremely pretty little tortoise is brought over from the Con- 

 tinent in hundreds, and often offered for sale in the streets of London 

 at a very low price. It is very hardy, living in any tank or pond 

 without any care, and not uncommonly surviving several successive 

 winters ; but I am not aware of any instance of its having produced 

 young in the localities where turned out : it is too small, and too fond 

 of concealing itself, to be a very desirable introduction, otherwise 

 I imagine it might be naturalized with very little trouble. I now copy 

 the evidence of occurrence in Britain, which of course is not to be 

 taken as establishing its claim to rank as a British species. 



