250 TEXT-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY 



tures situated on the tip of the snout, so that in breathing the animal 

 need only raise the latter above the surface of the water (compare with 

 whale). The respiratory needs of the animal are very small, so that it 

 can remain a considerable time below the surface. During its hibernation 

 the respiration almost ceases altogether. 



G. Reproduction. 



The female in the spring lays from about ten to fifteen hard-shelled 

 eggs in a pit which it scratches with its hind-feet in the sand or mud. 

 When the eggs have been deposited, the pit is filled up again, and the 

 animal stamps down the earth, in order to hide all traces of it, by alter- 

 nately lifting and letting fall upon it the hinder part of its body. 



H. Importance to Man. 



The flesh of the tortoise is eatable. Its depredations among fish, 

 however, far outbalance its uses. 



Other Species. 



Family 2. 



The Land Tortoises (Chersida) live chiefly on the juicy parts of 

 plants, and hence inhabit by preference woods and bushy places. Their 

 toes are united up to the nails (padlike feet ; see elephant), the animals 

 walking, in a slow and lazy fashion, upon callous soles. The dorsal 

 shield is strongly convex, and consequently capable of withstanding 

 violent blows. 



The most familiar species is the Greek Land Tortoise (Testudo 

 grceca), which inhabits Southern Europe, and attains to a weight of 

 about 5J pounds. The carapace is spotted yellow and black. The flesh 

 is eatable. 



The Giant Tortoises (T. indica) of the Galapagos Islands are 

 enormous animals, reaching a length of nearly 4 feet, and weighing as 

 much as 450 pounds. Owing to the foolish and incessant persecution 

 to which these animals have been subjected for decades, they are now 

 almost extinct. 



Family 3. 



The Turtles (Chelonida) are true aquatic animals, which only go 

 ashore for the purpose of depositing their eggs. They are excellent 

 swimmers and divers, with a depressed and flattened body (why?), and 

 fin-like feet (see seal) . 



