318 
SIR PETER EiVDE ON TORTOISES. 
In electrical weather they are never lively, even though the day 
he intermittingly hot and bright ; and at such times they are often 
almost lethargic, and show great indilference as to feeding. 
They appear to have an extreme and instinctive objection to rain. 
Cloudy weather makes them dull. A passing cloud will make 
them discontinue eating. And the passage of a person or object 
suddenly between them and the sun will cause them as suddenly 
to draw in their heads. The dislike of clouds and their accompani- 
ments is therefore a very marked instinct with them. 
If not fed, they will go and help themselves, not to grass, but to 
some white Clover growing with the grass in the garden ; or in 
default of this, to .some of the garden plants — by preference the 
fleshy-leaved ones, such as the Echiveria or Sedum — after which 
they will retire to some warm place, and bask in the sun. They 
have a special liking for the warm vine-border in front of my 
greenhouse ; and if the day be not too hot, they will tilt them- 
selves up edgeways against the south wall of the greenhouse, or 
upon the edge of some tuft of flowers ; or if the sun is too warm, 
they will then cover their heads up with leaves or earth on the 
bed, leaving their backs uncovered and exposed to the heat. (In 
this respect they seem to remind us of the habits of the tiger in 
his jungle.) 
But they appear greatly to prefer being fed, and having their 
food found for them ; indeed furtlier, one, at least, much prefers to 
have his food held up to him, and almo.st put into his mouth when 
he opens it. 
They take their food with a snapping movement; masticate it 
little if at all ; and when feeding themselves, cut or tear it wdth 
the sharp-hooked anterior portion of the upper jaAv. 
In the hottest weather their appetites are very fine (thus they 
Avill eat several large Lettuce leaves at one time), and they bear a 
close relation to the w^armth and clearness of the day, and the 
period of the year. 
Their favourite foods are — beside Trefoil, already mentioned, and 
garden floAvers — Lettuces, Dandelions, Erench Beans, etc. They 
are much attracted by yellow blossoms, and greedily eat those of 
the Dandelion and Buttercup. One of my creatures is very fond 
of sliced Apple, though the other will not eat it. 
But the vegetable of which they arc most fond is the Green Pea. 
