SIR PETER EADE ON TORTOISES. 
3G9 
(The under flat surface of the shell now measures G4 and G} 
inches from before backwards. These Tortoises are said not usually 
to exceed 10 inches in entire length). 
Then as to their weight. I have now kept an exact record of 
their respective weights in the spring and autumn of each of the 
past seven years, i.r., their weight on commencing to hybernate in 
October or November, and again their weight on returning afresh 
to light and more active existence in April or May of the following 
spring. And it is interesting to notice how almost continuously 
they have increased both in size and weight; and also how 
corresponding are the alterations, or otherwise, in the consecutive 
years, both of spring and autumn, of the two animals. 
In my former paper, I mentioned that during the summer 
months of 188G, when I first weighed them, i.e., from May to 
September, my Tortoises had gained in weight, the one 2| ounces, 
and tho other 14 ounces; whilst each of them became lighter in 
the following winter by 24 ounces. Since that time the spring 
and autumn weighings have been regularly continued, and the 
result is shown in the following table. 
WEIGHT 
Of 
Larger 
Tortoise. 
Of 
Smaller Tortoise. 
April. 
October. 
ArniL. 
October. 
Year 
lb. 
oz. 
lb. 
oz. 
lb. oz. 
lb. 
oz. 
188G ... 
2 
7 £ ... 
2 
10 
2 
H 
... 2 
5 
1887 ... 
o 
•J 
74 ... 
2 
10 
2 
24 
... 2 
5 
1888 ... 
0 
10 ... 
o 
134 
2 
5 
... 2 
H 
1S89 ... 
O 
•j 
13 ... 
2 
14 
o 
• • • 
S 
... 2 
84 
1890 ... 
2 
124 ... 
3 
°4 
2 
H 
... 2 
12 
1891 ... 
0 
mj 
154 ... 
3 
o 
0 
• • • «J 
10 
... 2 
124 
1892 ... 
3 
1 ... 
3 
34 
2 
12 
... 2 
144 
In the seven years, therefore, 188G to 1892, the larger Tortoise 
has increased in weight from 2 lb. 10 oz. to 3 lb. 34 oz. ; and the 
smaller Tortoise from 2 lb. 5 oz. to 2 lb. 144 oz., giving a total 
increase of weight in this period of exactly 91, ounces for each 
animal, or an average annual increase of about 1 ounce and 54 
drachms (avoirdupois). 
The general result also of the above weighings is to show, that 
in average seasons in England, these creatures gain from 2 to 24 
