MAESH TOETOISES. 161 



of Natural History at Paris had specimens of this Tortoise which 

 lived more than twelve months, and which weighed ahout six 

 hundred pounds. Their flesh is extremely delicate, and much 

 sought after. 



In some other Terrestrial Tortoises, from which the genus Pyxis 

 has been formed, the anterior portion of the plastron is movable ; 

 and when the head and feet are drawn in, the animal can fasten 

 itself against the sides of the carapace like a door in its case. 



In some Terrestrial Tortoises, which have been formed into par- 

 ticular genera, the carapace is flexible, and can lower itself behiad 

 like the plastron ; these are Kiniscys. Lastly, there are others 

 which, for legs, have only four unguiculated toes : such as the 

 Homopodes. 



Maesh ToaToisES. 



Marsh Tortoises, Elodites, occupy a place between Terrestrial 

 Tortoises and those which are essentially aquatic. They have the 

 carapace more or less depressed, oval, and broader behind ; their feet 

 have distinct flexible toes supplied with hooked claws, of which the 

 phalanges are united at the base by means of an elastic skin, which 

 enables them to separate one from the other, at the same time 

 preserving their strength and assisting them to grasp a much 

 larger surface. Thus they can walk upon the ground, swim on the 

 surface of deep . waters, and climb up the banks of lakes or other 

 tranquil waters, which are their habitual dwelling-places. 



These Tortoises are generally of small size ; being carnivorous, 

 they feed upon small living animals. As they exhale a nauseous 

 odour they are not used as an article of food ; and further, as 

 their carapace is neither thick enough nor beautiful enough to 

 be manufactured as tortoise-shell, they are consequently little 

 sought after. There are a hundred species of Elodians, or 

 Marsh Tortoises, known, which are spread over all parts of the 

 globe, but principally in 'warm and temperate regions. Such are 

 the Cistudo, Emydes, and Trionyx. 



The Elodians have none of the sluggishness of the Land 

 Tortoises ; they swim with facility, and on land they walk with con- 

 siderable rapidity. Their eggs are white, and nearly spherical, with 

 a calcareous shell, and these are deposited in a hollow dug in the soil 



M 



