216 THE BOX TORTOISE. 



at a rapid rate, bearing a strong resemblance to water-snakes. 

 The creature takes its name from the similarity of its flesh 

 to that of a chicken. It is consequently in great requisition 

 as food. 



THE SALT-WATER TERRAPIN. 



Another species — the salt-water terrapin — lives in the salt 

 marshes and ponds. It is brown above, and generally yellow 

 below — the lower jaw furnished with a sort of hook. The 

 sides of the head are white, sprinkled with black spots. 



THE BOX TORTOISE. 



The peculiarity of this creature is that it can draw its 

 head within its shell, so that, as few creatures would wish to 

 swallow such a morsel whole, it has no enemy except man to 

 fear. It might, to be sure, run the risk of being carried off 

 by an eagle and let drop on a hard rock, if the savage king 

 of birds ever does perform such a feat ; but though stories 

 are frequently told of his doing so, their truth is greatly 

 doubted. 



The box tortoise lives on shore among the pine-forest 

 lands, away from water, to which it seems to have an especial 

 dislike. It is frequently called, therefore, the pine terrapin. 

 It is one of the smallest of its tribe — being little more than 

 six inches long — and varies very greatly in its colour. Its 

 head is remarkable for having a somewhat broad hook at the 

 end of the upper jaw — the lower jaw being slightly hooked. 



THE MUD TORTOISE. 



The mud tortoise is smaller than the box, being scarcely 

 four inches in length. It can, however, move with consider- 

 able speed, and is seen floundering about in the ponds and 



