MARSH TORTOISES. 1 47 



resorting to some sheltered sandy place, where they bask in the sun's 

 rays. Towards the month of June the females lay from twelve to 

 fourteen white spherical eggs, as large as a small walnut ; these are 

 placed in a hole exposed to the sun, and covered over with earth. 

 Thus the operation of hatching is performed. The carapace of this 

 species is oval and very much arched; their marginal plates are 

 twenty-five in number ; the plastron, which is almost as long as the 

 carapace, is separated into two great portions by a longitudinal line ; 

 the plates of the carapace are spotted with black and greenish yellow, 

 forming a large marbled pattern ; the centre of the disc is besides 

 relieved by a small, irregular, blackish, central spot. These three 

 species are held in high estimation on account of their flesh, which 

 is said to make an agreeable soup. 



The Elephantine Tortoise (Testudo elephantine?), the length of 

 which is more than three feet, inhabits most of the islands situated 

 in the Mozambique Channel. The Museum of Natural History 

 at Paris had a specimen of this Tortoise, which lived more than 

 twelve months after its capture, and weighed about 600 pounds. 

 The flesh of this species is extremely delicate, and much sought 

 after. 



In some other Terrestrial Tortoises, from which the genus Pyxis 

 has been formed, the anterior portion of the plastron is movable; 

 and when the head and feet are drawn in, the animal can fasten 

 itself against the sides of the carapace like a door in its case. 



In others the carapace is flexible, and can be lowered behind like 

 the plastron ; these are Kinixys. Lastly, we arrive at the Ho?nopodes, 

 which have unguiculated legs. 



Marsh Tortoises. 



Marsh Tortoises (Elodites) occupy a place between Terrestrial 

 Tortoises and those which are essentially aquatic. They have the 

 carapace more or less depressed, oval, and broader behind ; their 

 feet have distinct flexible toes supplied with hooked claws, of which 

 the phalanges are united at the base by means of an elastic skin, 

 which enables them to separate one from the other, at the same time 

 preserving their strength and assisting them to grasp a much larger 

 surface. Thus they can walk, swim, or even climb abrupt banks. 



These Tortoises are generally small, and are carnivorous. As 

 they exhale a nauseous odour they are not used as human food. 

 Their carapace being neither thick nor handsome, they are conse- 

 quently little sought after. There are a hundred species of Elodians 



K 2 



