THE TORTOISE. 67 



Among Lycian reptiles the tortoise * is the 

 most conspicuous and abundant. The number 

 of these animals straying about the plains, and 

 browsing on the fresh herbage in spring, astonishes 

 the traveller. In April they commence love- 

 making. Before we were aware of the cause, 

 we were often surprised, when wandering among 

 ruins and waste places, at hearing a noise as if 

 some invisible geologist was busily occupied close 

 by trimming his specimens. A search in the 

 direction of the noise discovered the hammer in 

 the shape of a gentleman tortoise, who, not 

 being gifted with vocal powers, endeavoured to 

 express the warmth of his affection to his lady- 

 love by rattling his shell against her side. The 

 ardour of the tortoise is celebrated by iElian. 

 In ditches and stagnant waters, the fresh-water 

 tortoise (Emys caspia) is equally plentiful. In 

 fine weather long rows of them may be seen sun- 

 ning themselves on the banks ; whence, on being 

 alarmed, they would waddle, and plunge with 

 great rapidity into the water, apparently always 

 following a leader, who made the first plunge 

 from one end of the row. Of lizards, the 

 chameleon lives among bushes in the low 

 * Testudo grceca and marginata. 



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