CLASS III. REPTILIA: ORDER 1. GHELONIA. 365 
Fresh- Water Tortoise, Emys Caspica^ is equally plentiful. In fine weather long rows of them 
may be seen sunning 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." 
The Indian Tortoise, T. Indica, often grows to the length of three feet. It is found extens- 
ively in the warm parts of Asia and the Asiatic Islands. A specimen in the London Zoological 
Gardens measured four feet four inches. Tliis had lived seventy-seven years in a garden at Port 
Louis, in the island of Mauritius. 
The Testudo 2^lo,'n'ice2n, very similar to the preceding, is abundant in the Galapagos Islands. 
Mr. Darwin says it " is veiy fond of water, drinking large quantities, and wallowing in the mud. 
The larger islands alone possess springs, and these are always situated toward the central parts, 
and at a considerable elevation. The tortoises, therefore, which frequent the lower districts, 
when thirsty are obliged to travel from a long distance. Hence broad and well-beaten paths 
radiate in every direction from the wells even down to the sea-coast, and the Spaniards, by fol- 
lowing them up, first discovered tlie watering-places. When landed at Chatham Island, I could 
not imagine Avhat animal traveled so methodically along the well-chosen tracks. Near the 
springs it was a curious spectacle to behold many of these great monsters — one set eagerly trav- 
eling onward with outstretched neeks, and another set returning, after having drunk their fill. 
When the tortoise arrives at the spring, quite regardless of any spectator it buries its head in 
the water above its eyes, and greedily swallows great mouthfuls, at the rate of about ten in a 
minute. The inhabitants say each animal stays three or four days in the neighborhood of the 
water, and then returns to the lower country. For some time after a visit to the springs, the 
urinary bladder of these animals is distended with fluid, which is said gradually to decrease in 
volume, and to become less pure. The inhabitants, when walking in the lower district, and 
overcome with thirst, often take advantage of this circumstance by killing a tortoise, and if the 
bladder is full, drinking its contents. In one I saw killed the fluid was quite limpid, and had 
only a very slightly bitter taste. The inhabitants, however, always drink first the water in the 
pericardium, which is described as being best." These tortoises are exceedingly numerous in 
these islands; their flesh is delicate and good. Mr. Darwin says it "is largely employed, both 
fresh and salted ; and a beautifully clear oil is prepared from the fat. When a tortoise is caught, 
the man makes a slit in the skin near its tail, so as to see inside its body, whether the fat under 
the dorsal plate is thick. If it is not, the animal is liberated, and it is said to recover soon from 
this strange operation." 
There are several other species of this genus in Asia, Africa, and South America. 
Genus CISTUDA: Cistuda. — This includes the Box-Tortoises^ which are distinguished by a 
very curious meclianical contriv- 
ance. The plastron is divided cross- 
wise into two parts, which are united 
by a ligament, on which they turn 
as on a hinge ; they are thus able 
to shut in the head and the limbs. 
The Common Box-Tortoise, C. 
Carolina, popularly called Land- 
Turtle and LocTc-Tortoise, has a 
shell nearly hemispherical, six 
THE AMERICAN Box-TOBToisE. i^^c^es long, dark brown, beauti- 
fully stellated with lines, dashes, 
and confluent blotches of yellow; these figures and colors, however, are variable in form and 
tint. It is very timid and gentle ; feeds on fi^uit, insects, edible mushrooms, &c. ; common on 
dry land ; frequently found in moist places ; never takes to the water from choice, and would be 
drowned if immersed in it for a long time. It is sometimes kept in cellars, from an idea that it 
drives out the rats ; Dr. De Kay put one in his cellar, and found it soon after devoured by the 
rats. It goes into winter-quarters as early as September. Found from Canada to Florida. 
