TES 
•f Considerable sagacity, in distinguishing 
its benefactors, and of grateful attachment 
in return for their kindness, notwitlistanding 
its general sluggishness and torpor. It will 
answer the purpose of a barometer, and 
nniformiy indicates the fall of rain before 
night, when it takes its food with great ra- 
pidity, and walks with a sort of mincing and 
elate step. It appears to dislike rain with 
extreme aversion, and is discomfited and 
driven back only by a few and scarcely per- 
ceivable drops. See Amphibia, Plate II. 
fig. 4. 
T. Intaria, or the mud tortoise, is com- 
mon both in Europe and Asia, and particu- 
larly in France, where it is much used for 
food. It is seven inches long; lays its eggs 
on the ground, though an aquatic animal; 
walks quicker than the land tortoise; and is 
often kept in gardefis, to clear them from 
snails and various wingless insects. In fish- 
ponds it is very destructive, biting the fishes, 
and, when they are exhausted by the loss 
of blood, dragging them to the bottom and 
devouring them. 
T. ferox, or the fierce tortoise, is found 
in several parts of North America, and is 
eighteen inches long. It is rapid and vigo- 
rous in its movement, and will spring on 
its enemy with great elasticity and vio- 
lence. Its flesh is thought extremely good. 
It is found in the muddy parts of rivers, 
concealing itself among the weeds. It will 
also dart with great celerity on birds. The 
sea tortoises, or turtles, are distinguished 
from the former by having very large and- 
long feet, in the shape of fins, the claws of 
some of the tdes not being visible, but in- 
closed. 
T. mydas, or the common green turtle, 
is not unfrequently five feet long, and of 
the weight ot oOO pounds ; and is denomi- 
nated green, from a shade of that colour 
assumed by the fat when the animal is in its 
perfect state. In the West Indies it has 
been long in the higtest estimation for the 
table, and witliin sixty or seventy years it 
has gradually been advancing in reputation 
in this country for food, and is at present 
considered as furnishing the highest grati- 
fication of epicurism. It is imported into 
England in vast numbers. It feeds on sea 
grass called turtle grass. It is taken some- 
times after being watched to its haunts ; 
and being thrown on its back, is unable to 
rise again on its feet ; sometimes it is struck 
in the water with a long staff, armed with 
iron at the end. The markets- of the West 
Indies are supplied with the flesh of tJiesa 
TET 
animals as those of Europe are with mutton 
and beef, and before they were much sought 
as articles of exportation, forty sloops were 
employed by the inhabitants of Port Royal 
in catching them. They are seldom seen on 
land but at the season of laying their eggs, 
which they do at several times, after inter- 
vals of fourteen days. They are occca- 
sionally found, probably in consequence of 
tempests, on the coasts of Europe. 
T. imbricata, or the imbricated turtle, or 
hawksbill, is so called from its shells lap- 
ping one over another, like tiles on the roof 
of a house. It is about three feet long; is 
found in the seas both of Asia and America, 
and sometimes also in theMediterrancan; and 
is said to have been seen even of 600 pounds 
weight. Its flesh is in no estimation ; but 
its lamina are manufactured into that ele- 
gant material known by the name of tortoise- 
shell, which has been applied by human-in- 
genuity to innumerable purposes both of 
use and ornament. The thickness of the 
plates varies in reference to the age and 
size of the turtle. Those of a very young 
one are of no value. A large one will sup- 
ply ten pounds weight of valuable scales, 
which being softened by heat, and lapped 
ovCr each other, by means of pressure be- 
come effectually united, so as to constitute 
one piece of considerable extent, and with- 
out any perceivable trace of their separa- 
tion. This article was well known to the 
Greeks and Romans, and was an important 
material of luxury and commerce. Various 
articles of furniture, and even beds, were 
inlaid with it. The Egyplians exported 
large cargoes of it to Rome for these pur- 
poses, and in China, as well as Europe, it is 
at present in very high demand for elegant 
and ornamental mahafaciures. 
Testudo, in the military art of the an- 
cients, was a kind of cover or screen which 
the soldiers, c. gr. a whole company, made 
themselves of their bucklers, by holding 
them up over their heads, and standing close 
to each other. This expedient served to shel- 
ter them from darts, stones, &c. thrown up- 
on them, especially those thrown from above, 
when they went to the assault. 
Testudo was also a kind of large w'ooden 
tower which moved on several wheels, and 
was covered with bullock’s hides Head, serv- 
ing to shelter the soldiers when they ap- 
proached I he walls to mine them, or to bat- 
ter them with rams. 
TETHER, a string by which horses are 
held from ranging too far in pastures, &c. 
In figurative language, we say to go the 
