690 Geometric Tortoises 



[Aug. 



lethargic inactivity (for they are not torpid), until the hot season, at 

 whichtime they only remain concealed during the heat of the day, 

 coming out about sunset to feed. 



As I have several of these animals alive, I shall give an outline of 

 their general habits in a state of confinement. I have at different 

 times procured seven of these creatures, three of which are females, 

 and are easily distinguished by their larger size. They were all 

 turned loose into a large enclosure, and well supplied with water, and 

 grass, both dried and green, and a heap of bushes and grass to hide 

 themselves in. . 



Throughout the hot season, they remained all day in concealment, 

 coming out a little before sunset, to feed on the grass, lucern, or 

 cabbage leaves, which were thrown to them. As night approached 

 they did not again retire, but, as if enjoying the coolness of the air, 

 remained stationary until morning, when they withdrew to their re- 

 treats before the sun rose. They did not wander about during the 

 night, but remained as if asleep. 



At this season they were fond of plunging into water where they 

 would often remain for half an hour at a time : this, too, generally 

 had the effect of making them void their excrement, which appeared 

 to be hard oblong masses of ill digested vegetable fibres, and along 

 with it a small quantity of a white chalky substance. 



They drank a great quantity of water, which they took by thrusting 

 in the head and swallowing it by draughts. As the rainy season set 

 in, they became more lively and were to be seen throughout the day 

 wandering about in the rain, feeding freely and resting at intervals, 

 and frequently performing the rites of love. Often indeed two or 

 three males succeeded each other with little intermission, without 

 appearing to inconvenience the female who lay quite still cropping the 

 grass within her reach. The male mounts on the back of the female 

 like other quadrupeds, placing his fore legs on the top of the carapace 

 while his hind legs rest on the ground. They remain engaged from 

 ten minutes to a quarter of an hour, the male uttering, at intervals a 

 groaning sound. They are not however, attached after the operation, 

 as is said to be the case, but the desire of the male being appeased, he 

 retires to rest and feed. During the whole period of the rains the 

 females continued to admit the males freely, i. e. from the latter end 

 of June until the middle of October, being nearly four months, when 

 they became less familiar and drew off from each other. 



On the 11th November 1835, one of the females commenced sink- 

 ing a pit to receive her eggs, which she performed in the following 

 manner. Having selected a retired spot at the root of a tuft of 



