8 THE COMMON TORTOISE. 



itself for the winter, remaining torpid for four or 

 five months, and not again making its appearance 

 till the spring. About the beginning of June, the 

 female scratches a hole in some warm situation, in 

 which she deposits her four or five eggs. These are 

 hatched in September, at which time the young are 

 not larger than a walnut*. 



The Common Tortoise is an animal that, for the 

 extreme slowness of its motions, has been ever noto» 

 rious, both in ancient and modern times. This 

 seems principally occasioned by the position of the 

 legs, which are thrown very much to the sides of the 

 body, and are considerably spread out from each 

 other. It may likewise be in some degree caused 

 by the great weight of the shell pressing on this un- 

 favourable position of the legs. — In walking, the 

 claws of the fore- feet are rubbed separately, and 

 one after another against the ground : when one of 

 the feet is placed on the ground, the inner claw 

 first bears the weight of the body, and so dn along 

 the claw r s in succession to the outermost. The foot 

 in this manner acts somewhat like a wheel, as if the 

 animal wished scarcely to raise its feet from the 

 earth, and endeavoured to advance by means of a 

 succession of partial steps of its toes or claws, for 

 the purpose of more firmly supporting the great 

 weight of its body and shellf. 



These animals have often been brought into Eng- 

 land. The Rev. Mr. White, of Selborne, attended 

 accurately to the manners of one that was in posses- 



* La Ccpede, i. 193. f lb. i. 184. 186. 



