E. H. Barbour — A young Tortoise with two heads. 229 



When placed on smooth ground, free from grass and obstruc- 

 tions, their first manoeuvre, after turning the right head to the 

 right, the left to the left, is to start off resolutely in these two 

 directions at once, the rather remarkable resultant of the 

 two forces in opposite directions being a straight line directly 

 backward ; they make progress for a foot or two in the wrong 

 direction, then agree on a course and start off together. In 

 the grass or weeds they are quite helpless, because when a stalk 

 of grass is encountered, one head chooses the right course, the 

 other the left, that is, they straddle it, and being equals in 

 strength, neither side succumbs, so they stand there tugging 

 away until tired out. 



It is interesting, though not surprising, that two heads so 

 nearly one should have different temperaments. The right 

 head, on most occasions, is the more timid and irascible, re- 

 tracting or dodging at a passing fly, or the approach of a 

 strange animal. The left head, on the other hand, seems bold 

 and energetic. It is difficult to conceive of any two individ- 

 uals, growing up under surrounding circumstances more com- 

 pletely identical than these. Yet, like the South Carolina 

 negresses, called the Two-headed Nightingale, the difference in 

 their dispositions furnishes new evidence that, though the 

 origin and environments be precisely the same, the results are 

 not necessarily so. 



To what extent the digestion, respiration, circulation, and 

 nervous systems are united or separate is at present only open 

 to conjecture. The alimentary canals, in all probability, be- 

 come united in one stomach after leaving the two necks, and 

 remain so to the anus, which is single. I have noticed that 

 while the two heads eat equal amounts, yet at one feeding the 

 left head perhaps shows the greater appetite, at another time 

 the other. But no risks can be taken by experimenting with 

 such a pet, or we could feed one at the expense of the other 

 for a short time. By watching the expansions and contractions 

 of the throat, where the hyoid plays so important a part in 

 chelonian respiration, we find that each of the heads breathes 

 regularly, but independently, as much so as if they belonged 

 to disconnected individuals. At regular intervals they can be 

 seen opening their mouths and gaping, as if the supply of 

 oxygen was insufficient, as it doubtless is. This is their only 

 visible sign of weakness. 



As already stated respecting the nervous system, it is per- 

 fectly patent that the appendages of the right and left sides 

 belong to, and respond only to, their respective heads. So 

 noticeable is this independence in the action of the four feet, 

 which otherwise seem to belong naturally enough to the one 

 carapace, that many -who see its attempts at walking are led to 



