316 



PRACTICAL ZOOLOGY 



and the shell is leathery without shields and with only a few 

 scattered bones. These turtles are voracious and carnivorous, 

 and when attacked, they are very vicious. The shells as well as 

 other parts of the animals are used as food and are regularly sold 

 in the markets. 



Terrestrial Turtles. — The turtles that are terrestrial in habit 

 include the box turtle, gopher tortoise, and giant tortoise. 



Fig. 



■ Giant tortoise. (Photo, of living animal. By permission. 

 Copyright iqio by Sturgis and Walton Co.) 



The common box turtle (Fig. 193), which occurs in the North- 

 eastern States, lives in dry woods and feeds on berries, tender 

 shoots, earthworms, and insects. The lower part of the shell 

 is hinged transversely near the center so that it can be closed 

 completely when the animal is in danger. 



The giant tortoises (Fig. 194) are interesting not only because of 

 their great size, but also because they are living representatives 

 of the fauna of past ages. Some of those captured on the Galap- 



