8 
LECTURE VIL 
one of the most common is the T. Grgeca of Lin- 
naeus or Grecian Tortoise, which is supposed to 
be a native of almost all the countries bordering 
on the Mediterranean sea, and to be more fre- 
quent in Greece than in other regions. It is 
found in the scattered islands of the Archipelago, 
and in Corsica and Sardinia. It also occurs in 
many parts of Africa. 
In no branch of natural history have more 
errors prevailed than in that relating to the Tor- 
toise tribe, and more particularly with respect to 
the true distinction of the species; the general 
similarity being very great, and the individuals 
occasionally varying much in size, colours, and 
other particulars, according to the different periods 
of their growth, and their state of perfection. 
Their specific characters given by Linnasus are 
proved, from later observations, to be entirely in- 
sufficient for the purpose of accurate distinction ; 
and the same must be said of those in the Gme- 
linian edition of the Systema Naturje. The de- 
scriptions of Count de Cepede in his History of 
Oviparous Quadrupeds, have by no means tended 
to dispel the general obscurity, but in some in- 
stances, have rather increased it. One observation 
