THE GOPHER. 13 



The scale -covered manis, again, although guarded with successive layers of broad, horny 

 plates, is, in point of fact, less protected when rolled up than when walking quietly along ; for 

 when at rest, the scales overlap each other like the tiles of a house, so that any weapon would 

 glance aside, but when curled up the scales are erected and leave a passage for the arrow or 

 the spear between them. 



The real defence of the hedgehog lies in the points of its quills and of the manis in the 

 razor-like edges of its scales, but the defence of the Tortoise is wholly inaggressive, and is 

 more allied to that of the armadillo or perhaps the singular pichiciago {CMamydophorus 

 truncatus), a most remarkable little creature with a curious shelly covering spread over nearly 

 the whole upper surface and down the hind-quarters. A description of this animal may be 

 found in the volume on the Mammalia, page 631. There are again many of the lower animals 

 which have a similar mode of defence, a very familiar example being the well-known pill- 

 woodlouse so common in our gardens, which rolls itself into a round ball when alarmed, and 

 permits itself to be handled and even rolled along the ground without displaying any signs 

 of life. 



The Box Tortoise is a terrestrial species, and always keeps to the dry forest-lands, detest- 

 ing the vicinity of water. It is commonly found in the pine forests, because they are always 

 on thoroughly dry soil, and on account of its fondness for such localities is sometimes known 

 by the popular name of the Pine Terrapin. The negroes call it by the name of Cooter. In the 

 wild state it mostly feeds on insects, and is peculiarly fond of the cricket tribe, but in captivity 

 it will eat almost any food that is offered, taking insects, meat, apples, or even bread. 



It is a very little creature, being when adult a very little more than six inches in length. 

 In color it is extremely variable, but is generady yellowish-brown, striped with a brighter 

 hue, and sometimes mottled with black. Of a number of specimens no two were exactly alike, 

 some being yellow, spotted with black, while others exactly reversed these tints, and were 

 black, spotted with yellow. Others again were yellow with black rays, and others olive with 

 yellow rays and streaks. The carapace has a very slight keel along its upper edge. 



The upper jaw of this species is furnished with a rather broad hook, and the lower jaw is 

 also hooked, but not so boldly. 



This is an interesting species from having its shell so adapted by a hinged cover in front 

 that it shuts itself tightly within. What complete protection is here afforded from any ordi- 

 nary foe ! Tortoises are mostly notable for longevity, and this species seems to be especially 

 favored. We remember to have captured one of them while in a woodland of Worcester 

 County, in Massachusetts, and found the initials of a relative cut on its back. They 

 were recognized as having been cut there thirty or more years previously. This species, 

 from being an inhabitant of dry woods, is more likely than those of ponds and wet places 

 to be found and captured ; hence the more frequent selection of this Turtle for such carving- 

 purposes. 



Other species, found in various parts of the world, seem to have the same curious box- 

 like shell. 



The Box Turtle inhabits the United States from Maine and New York to Missouri and 

 southward. A variety called the Three-toed Box Turtle (C. triimqni.s), found in Pennsylvania 

 and southward, is paler in color, and has the hind-feet mostly three-toed. It is called Pine 

 Barren Terrapin, or Cooter, in the South. 



The Gopher (Testudo Carolina). This is the common Land Tortoise of the Southern 

 States. It is not known farther north than North Carolina, where among the pine barrens it 

 abounds in great numbers, living entirely on vegetables. The flesh is esteemed a great delicacy. 

 The length of the species is about fourteen inches. 



About twenty species of Land Tortoises are known to science, inhabiting both hemi- 

 spheres. They are all herbivorous, confined to the land, and inhabit the warmer portions 

 of their respective localities. Their special characteristic is the habit of burrowing. 



The Pond Turtles, family Emyidce, are represented over the whole world, widely dis- 

 tributed, by about eighty species. 



