SEPTEMBER 



195 



draw his head into the box, but the under- 

 side of the box is hinged and he can com- 

 pletely close the flaps. This arrangement 

 is the more necessary because he cannot 

 commonly hide in the mud and water, like 

 his pond cousins, the snapper and the 

 spotted turtle. These latter are the turtles 

 we often see as we approach a body of quiet 

 water. An old projecting log holds per- 

 haps a dozen of them, lying with out- 

 stretched necks, enjoying to the full the 

 warm rays of the summer sun. For they 

 are in truth children of the tropics, and ours 

 are wanderers into a clime too cool for them 

 during a considerable part of the year. So 

 they use every opportunity to enjoy the 

 luxury of a sun bath. But in such situa- 

 tions they are very much exposed. So on 

 the first sight of our approach, and their 

 sight is very keen, they drop most uncere- 

 moniously into the water. 



The food of the box-tortoise is as humble 

 as himself. He has quite a taste for mush- 

 rooms, and it is astonishing how well versed 

 he is in the matter of their edibility. I have 



