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THE COMMON TORTOISE*. 



The Common Tortoise is found in most of trie 

 countries near the Mediterranean sea, in Corsica, 

 Sardinia, and some of the islands of the Archipe- 

 lago, as well as in many parts of the North of 

 Africa. 



The length of its shell is seldom more than eight 

 or nine inches, nor does its weight often exceed 

 three pounds. The shell, which, as in most of the 

 other species, is composed of thirteen middle pieces, 

 and about twenty-five marginal ones, is of an oval 

 form, extremely convex, and broader behind than 

 before. The middle part is blackish brown varied 

 with yellow. The under part or belly of the shell 

 is of a pale yellow, with a broad dark line down 

 each side, leaving the middle part plain. The 

 head is not large, nor does the opening of the mouth 

 extend beyond the eyes : the upper part is covered 

 with somewhat irregular scales. The legs are short, 

 and the feet moderately broad and covered with 

 strong ovate scales. The tail is somewhat shorter 

 than the legs : it is also covered with scales, but ter- 

 minates in a horny tip. 



This species resides principally in burrows that it 

 forms in the ground, where it sleeps the greatest 

 part of its time, appearing abroad only a few hours 

 in the middle of the day. In the autumn it hides 



* Synonyms.— Testudo Graeca. Linn. Common Land Tor- 

 toise, Greek Tortoise. Shaws Gen. Zool. 'vol. 3. tab. j. 



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