ORDER CHELONIA. 47 



nervous papillae, which indicates a certain degree of sensibi- 

 lity in the organ of taste. 



The instruments of manducation in the tortoises are two 

 jaws, or to speak with more propriety, two trenchant gums, 

 pointed and recurved, and greatly resembling in their form 

 and consistence the bill of parrots. Sometimes they also 

 possess teeth, or asperities enchased in the palate, which are 

 more or less numerous. Many of them have fleshy lips, with- 

 out either teeth or horn. 



The neck of tortoises is generally cylindrical, and capable 

 of great extension. It is almost always covered with small 

 scales, separated and very hard. It is, notwithstanding, the 

 part of the animal the least capable of defence, and that in 

 which it may be the most easily killed. Accordingly, we 

 find that the tortoise very seldom projects it out of the testa, 

 and on the slightest appearance of danger withdraws it so 

 completely, that it cannot be seen. 



The feet of tortoises are always covered with scales more or 

 less numerous, which prove a considerable protection to them 

 from accidents and impediments of various kinds. Many can 

 withdraw them completely within the carapace, the apertures 

 of which are stopped by one of their ribs, which is always 

 more furnished with scales than the rest. The shortness of 

 their limbs prevents the tortoises from turning themselves 

 when they are laid upon their backs. 



Though the walk of these animals is in general so slow as 

 to have passed into a proverb from all antiquity, yet there 

 are some species which run tolerably fast. The fresh-water 

 and marine tortoises swim very well. 



The tail of the tortoise is usually of no great length, always 

 conical, and furnished with scales on the upper part. In 

 danger, this tail is recurved and concealed under the hinder 

 limbs, after they have been folded up in the testa. It is 



