4 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The water tortoises require similar conditions to 

 those of crocodiles. These may be easily distinguished 

 by the flattened webbed feet and usually depressed 

 carapaces. Most of the water forms are animal feeders 

 and tear their food with their long and sharp claws. 

 It is necessary to be very careful in handling the larger 

 ones as they bite very badly, usually taking out a piece 

 of one's finger. 



The large Amazon fresh water tortoise (Podocnemis) 

 seems to be a vegetable feeder. Some years ago a 

 specimen measuring eighteen inches long was brought to 

 me dead, and on opening it I found it was packed with 

 seeds resembling those of the sycamore and another type 

 resembling pepper berries. I planted some of the former 

 and a few germinated and put forth the dicotyledons, but 

 died before its true leaves came, as the cold weather 

 set in. Most of the seeds and berries had been bitten, 

 I presumed that they must have fallen into the water 

 and then been taken as food. Most land tortoises are 

 vegetable feeders, and will hibernate if they have been 

 feeding well and are put into earth or moss. 



These two groups are comparatively easily dealt 

 with, they will feed readily and are not much subject to 

 diseases. Yet there are certain conditions to be aware of. 

 Crocodiles should not be fed entirely on meat, as there is 

 a tendency for their bones to become softened, no doubt 

 due to an insufficiency of lime salts. However, apart 

 from this, they are liable to injure their jaws and teeth in 

 biting at any hard substance introduced into the case, 

 and afterwards developing obstinate sores. The Caspian 

 tortoise (Clemmys caspica) has often patches of diseased 

 bone in its carapace, and in separating, openings are left. 



The Ophidia are very much more difficult to look 

 after, not so much on account of the heat or light as 



