160 CHELONIANS. 



wHence those are sent which are sold in the Paris markets. 

 When shooting in Morocco, scarcely a day would pass without 

 the setters or pointers finding numbers of them, to which they 

 would stand with as much staunchness as game. The scent they 

 emit is so powerful as to be easily detected by a human being. 

 The carapace of this species is also convex ; the sternum is also 

 movable behind : it is generally olive-coloured. The plates of the 

 disc are marked with blackish spots, and sometimes with a buckle 

 of the same colour, which covers their circumference on the front 

 and sides. The plates of the plastron, the ground of which is 

 olive, have each a large black spot in the centre. This species is 

 rather smaller than the Marginate Tortoise. 



The Greek Tortoise, Testudo Grceca, is of small dimensions, 

 scarcely exceeding twelve inches in length. They inhabit Greece, 

 Italy, some of the Mediterranean isles, and the south of France, 

 from whence it seems to have been transplanted into Italy. They 

 feed upon herbs, roots, slugs, and lob-worms. Like all their race, 

 they sleep during the winter, passing this season in holes which 

 they excavate in the soil sometimes more than thirty inches deep. 

 As the month of May approaches they issue from their retreat, 

 resorting to some sheltered sandy place, where they bask them- 

 selves in the sun's rays. Towards the month of June the females 

 lay from twelve to fourteen white spherical eggs, as large as a 

 small walnut ; they dispose these eggs in a hole exposed to the sun; 

 but covered over with earth. Thus the operation of hatching is 

 performed. The carapace of this species is oval and very much 

 arched ; their marginal plates are twenty-five in number ; the 

 plastron, which is almost as long as the carapace, is separated 

 into two great portions by a longitudinal line ; the plates of 

 the carapace are spotted with black and greenish y-ellow, forming 

 a large marbled pattern ; the centre of the disc is besides relieved 

 by a small, irregular, blackish, central spot. These three species 

 are held in high estimation on account of their flesh, which gives 

 an agreeable taste to soup. 



The Elephantine Tortoise, Testudo elephantina, the length of 

 which is more than three feet, inhabits most of the islands 

 situated in the Mozambique Channel — namely, between the 

 eastern coast of Africa and the Isle of Madagascar. The Museum 



