TORTOISES 
The age to which they are said to live is probably 
merely fabulous. It is, however, certain that they grow 
slowly, and that they attain a good old age. Some species 
are of immense size. The measured length of the outer 
shell of a large Indian tortoise {T. elephantina) was found 
to be 4 ft. 3 in., the circumference 6 ft. 6 in. This 
animal is said to have weighed 400 lbs., and as the ap- 
pearance of many animals that grow to a large size lead 
us to regard them as being very old, we are induced 
to place faith in their antiquity. However, be that as 
it may, it is not many years since it was generally 
believed that the rhinoceros required fifty years to com- 
plete its growth, and would then live till it was up- 
wards of two hundred years old. We now know that 
those accounts were fables, as the rhinoceros is fully 
grown at the age of eight or ten years, and that it 
most probably dies of old age before it has seen forty 
summers. 
Large numbers of the common tortoise {Testudo grceca) 
are brought to London, and are offered for sale about the 
streets by the costermongers ; the price varies from four 
pence to two shillings each. It is great fun to witness 
the artful dodges practised by such dealers in well-known, 
but little understood, animals ; the strange questions of 
the buyers, and the quaint answers of the vendors, are as 
remarkable as they are suited to the occasion. “ What 
are they good for ? ” asks an old lady. “ What do you 
want it to do, marm ?” Well, my kitchen swarms with 
black beetles.” “ Ah ! ” says the costermonger, “ they are 
dead nuts on black beetles.” The tortoise is forthwith paid 
for and carried off. The next customer is induced to become 
a purchaser on being assured of the skill of the animal in 
catching mice, etc. etc., or, should the slightest hint be 
given of a garden, you are gratuitously informed that 
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