ORDER CHELONIA. 



63 



no more than the properties of a square and a circle can be 

 united in one and the same simple figure. The only dif- 

 ference between the two cases is, that we see plainly the 

 impossibility in the latter, because the entire subject is com- 

 pletely within our view. In the former this is not the case, 

 because the whole is not within our grasp, yet, as far as we 

 can see, the impossibility is equally evident in the one as in 

 the other ; and could we survey all things with the eye of a 

 divinity, we should find that the laws of physics are as immu- 

 table as those of mathematics. 



There are six or eight varieties of the common land tor- 

 toise, which have been pointed out by SchoepfF and Daudin. 

 It is not necessary to describe them here. 



The Indian Tortoise {Test. Indica) has the carapace 

 about three feet long, compressed in front, and elevating itself 

 above the head, at the anterior edge. The general tint is 

 deep brown ; and the tail is terminated by a corneous 

 point. 



This tortoise, of which, by the way, the opportunities of 

 observation have not been numerous, would appear to be the 

 largest species of the genus, Perrault has described it at 

 considerable length, and left pretty ample and useful details 

 on its anatomy. It has been figured by Schoepff"; and M. 

 Dumeril has shown, that, in collections under the general 

 name of Testudo Indica^ many species have been confounded, 

 similar in their system of coloration, but nevertheless to be 

 distinguished by the form of the carapace. 



A tortoise of this species, according to Perrault, was 

 brought from the coast of Coromandel to Europe, and lived 

 more than a year in Paris, towards the end of the seventeenth 

 century. In a Dutch collection, Vosmaer observed a cara- 

 pace like that of this tortoise, and which came from the Cape 

 of Good Hope. 



