28 



DIMENSIONS OF A TERRAPIN. 



necks being nearly vertical, and advance with 

 their mouths wide open, appearing to be the most 

 spiteful of any reptile whatever. Sometimes two 

 of them would come up to each other in that 

 manner, so near as almost to touch, and stand in 

 that position for two or three minutes, appearing 

 so angry, that their mouths, heads, and necks, ap- 

 peared to quiver with passion, when by the least 

 touch of a stick against their heads or necks, they 

 would shrink back in an instant, and draw their 

 necks, heads, and legs into their shells. This is 

 the only quick motion I ever saw them perform. 

 I was put in the same kind of fear that is felt at 

 the sight or near approach of a snake, at the first 

 one I saw, which was very large. I was alone at 

 the time, and he stretched himself as high as he 

 could, opened his mouth, and advanced towards 

 me. His body was raised more than a foot from 

 the ground, his head turned forward in the 

 manner of a snake in the act of biting, and raised 

 two feet and a half above its body. I had a 

 musket in my hand at the time, and when he ad- 

 vanced near enough to reach him with it, I held 

 the muzzle out so that he hit his neck against it, 

 at the touch of which he dropped himself upon the 

 ground, and instantly secured all his limbs within 

 his shell. They are perfectly harmless, as much so 

 as any animal I know of, notwithstanding their 

 threatening appearance. They have no teeth, and 

 of course they cannot bite very hard. They take 

 their food into their mouths by the assistance of 

 the sharp edge of the upper and under jaw, which 

 shut together, one a little within the other, so as to 

 nip grass, or any flowers, berries, or shrubbery, 

 the only food they eat. 



" Those who have seen the elephant, have seen 

 the exact resemblance of the leg and foot of a ter- 

 rapin. I have thought that I could discover some 

 faint resemblance to that animal in sagacity. They 

 are very prudent in taking care of themselves and 

 their eggs, and in the manner of securing them in 

 their nests ; and I have observed on board my own 

 ship, as well as others, that they can easily be 

 taught to go to any place on the deck, which may 

 be wished for them to be constantly kept in. The 

 method to effect this is, by whipping them with a 

 small line when they are out of place, and to take 

 them up and carry them to the place assigned for 

 them ; which, being repeated a few times, will 

 bring them into the practice of going themselves, 

 by being whipped when they are out of their place. 

 They can be taught to eat on board a ship, as well 

 as a sheep, or a goat ; and will live for a long time, 

 if there is proper food provided for them. This I 

 always took care to do, when in a place where I 

 could procure it. The most suitable to take on 

 board a ship, is prickly pear-trees ; the trunk of 

 which is a soft, pithy substance, of a sweetish taste, 

 and full of juice. Sometimes I procured grass for 

 them. Either of these being strewed on the 

 quarter-deck, the pear-tree being cut fine, would 

 immediately entice them to come from all parts of 

 the deck to it ; and they would eat in their way, 

 as well as any domestic animal. I have known 

 them live several months without food ; but they 

 always, in that case, grow lighter, and their fat 

 diminishes, as common sense teaches, notwith- 

 standing some writers have asserted to the con- 

 trary. If food will fatten animals, to go without 

 it will make them lean. 



" I carried at one time from James's Island, 

 three hundred very good terrapins to the Island of 

 Massa Fuero ; and there landed more than one- 

 half of them, after having them sixty days on 

 board my ship. Half of the number landed died 

 as soon as they took food. This was owing to their 

 stomachs having got so weak and out of tone that 

 they could not digest it. As soon as they ate any 

 grass after landing, they would froth at the mouth, 

 and appeared to be in a state of insanity, and died 

 in the course of a day or two. This satisfied me 

 that they were in some sort like other animals, and 

 only differed from them by being slower in their 

 motions ; and that it takes a longer time to pro- 

 duce an effect upon their system than upon that 

 of other creatures. Those that survived the shock 

 which was occasioned by this sudden transition 

 from total abstinence to that of abundance, soon 

 became tranquil, and appeared to be as healthy 

 and as contented with the climate as when they 

 were at their native place ; and they would 

 probably have lived as long, had they not been 

 killed for food. Their flesh, without exception, is 

 of as sweet and pleasant a flavour as any that I 

 ever ate. It was common to take out of one of 

 them ten or twelve pounds of fat, when they were 

 opened, besides what was necessary to cook them 

 with. This was as yellow as our best butter, and 

 of a sweeter flavour than hog's-lard. They are 

 the slowest in their motions of any animal I ever 

 saw, except the sloth. They are remarkable for 

 their strength ; one of them would bear a man's 

 weight on his back and walk with him. I have 

 seen them at one or two other places only. One 

 instance was, those brought from Madagascar to 

 the Isle of France ; but they were far inferior in 

 size, had longer legs, and were much more ugly 

 in their looks, than those of the Galapagos Islands. 

 I think I have likewise seen them at some of the 

 Oriental Islands which I have visited. 



" I have been more particular in describing the 

 terrapin than I otherwise should have been, had 

 it not been for the many vague accounts given of 

 it by some writers, and the incorrect statement 

 made of the country in which it is to be found. 

 It has been publicly said that terrapins are com- 

 mon in China, which, I am confident, is incorrect ; 

 for I have carried them to Canton at two different 

 times, and every Chinese who came on board 

 my ship was particularly curious in inspecting 

 and asking questions about them ; and not one, 

 I am positive, had any knowledge of the animal 

 before." 



I subjoin the measurement of one terrapin, 

 weighing 1 90 lbs. 



Dimensions of a Terrapin weighing 190 lbs. 



Inches. 

 Length of upper shell, . . . .43 



Breadth of ditto, 44 5 



Length of belly shell, . . . .29 



Breadth of ditto, 26 



Length of the head, . . . . . 6J 



Greatest breadth, 4 J 



Ditto depth, 3f 



Greatest extent of upper and lower man- 

 dible, 3| 



Distance of eye from nose, . . • H 



Length of neck, 31 



Circumference about the middle of the neck, 9 



