210 
NATURAL HISTORY, 
immediately lakes^possession, and parades in Lis new con- 
quest three or four times back and forward upon the strand 
before his envious antagonist. 
When this animal is taken, it sends forth a feeble cry, 
endeavouring to seize the enemy with his nippers; which 
if it fastens upon, it will sooner die than quit the grasp. 
The wound is very painful, and not easily cured. For this 
reason, and as it is not much esteemed for its flesh, it is 
generally permitted to return to its old retreat to the moun- 
tains in safety. There it continues till the necessity of 
changing once more, and the desire of producing an" off- 
spring* expose it to fresh dangers the year ensuing. 
There are many other species of this animal, such as the 
lobster-crab , the rkercrab, the minute crab, which is found 
in the inside of muscles, &c. 
Iortoises are usually divided into those that live upon 
land, and those that subsist in the water ; and use has made 
a distinction even in the name ; the one beino- called 
tortoises, the other turtles. However, Seba has proved that 
all tortoises are amphibious ; that the land tortoise will 
live in the water ; and that the sea turtle can be fed upon 
land. A land tortoise was brought to him that was caught 
in one of the canals of Amsterdam, which he kept for half 
a year in his house, where it lived very well contented in 
both elements. When in tire water it remained with its 
head above the surface; when placed in the sun, it seemed 
delighted with its beams, and continued immoveable while 
it feLt their warmth. The difference, therefore, in these 
animals, arises rather from their habits than their confor- 
mation ; and, upon examination, there will be less variety 
found between them than between birds that live upon land, 
and those that swim upon the water. 
All tortoises, in their external form, much resemble each 
other; their outward covering being composed of two great 
shells, the one laid upon the other, and only touching at 
the edges ; however when we come to look closer, we shall 
find that the upper shell is composed of no less than thir- 
teen pieces. There are two holes at either edge of this 
vaulted body ; one for a very small head, shoulders and 
arms, to peep through, the other at the opposite edge, for 
the feet and the tail. These shells the animal is never dis- 
engaged front ; and they serve for its defence against every 
creature but man. 
The land tortoise is generally found from one to five feet 
long, from the end of the snout to the end of the tail ; and 
