398 DESCRIPTION OF THE MUSEUM. 



tortoises. The most common is the Grecian, 

 which is found in Italy, Sardinia, etc. It is of 

 this species that broth is made for consumptive 

 persons ; its carapace is much arched, and is 

 seldom more than one foot in length ; it feeds 

 on leaves, fruits, and snails ; passes the winter 

 under ground, pairs in the spring, and lays from 

 four to six eggs. Amongst the exotics we may 

 mention the geometrical from the Cape, and the 

 spotted from South America. The carapace of 

 the latter is speckled with a variety of colours. 



The emjdsy or fresh water tortoises, are web- 

 footed, which enables them to swim with great 

 facility. We have twenty species of them ; 

 amongst which the yellow and the mud tortoises 

 are European, and found in the temperate re- 

 gions as far north as Berlin. They assemble in 

 numbers, and feed upon frogs and fish. They 

 are kept on account of the quality of their flesh, 

 which is excellent food. The most remarkable 

 amongst the exotic species, for its varied and 

 beautiful colours, is the testudo pulchella. 



The box tortoise is so called from the peculiar 

 formation of its breastplate ; the front part of 

 which, and sometimes also the hind part, move 

 backwards and forwards upon the centre as if 

 they were hinged on it ; so that when the animal 

 has drawn its head and feet under the carapace, 



