156 THE LIVING ANIMALS OL THE WORLD 
again, or, where the ground is rocky, drops them indiscriminately in any crevice or depression 
encountered. The eggs are white, spherical, and hard-shelled, as in all tortoises, and somewhat 
exceed those of a hen in bulk. 
The very antithesis of the giant land-tortoises of the Galapagos Islands is the small and 
familiar Grecian Tortoise, frequently e.xposed for sale on hand-barrows in the London streets, 
and acquired by the unsophisticated suburban resident as a quaint but not altogether 
estimable garden pet. Like the majority of tortoises, this is a vegetarian, and with epicurean 
tastes that will guide it instinctively to select your choicest lettuces and the gems of your 
horticultural triumphs for the delectation of its fastidious appetite. The Grecian tortoise rarely 
exceeds 5. I inches in length, and is abundant throughout South-eastern Europe, Sicily, Italy, 
and the Grecian Archipelago, extending thence to Syria. In Algeria an almost identical 
tortoise occurs which grows to the greater length of 9 inches; while Greece produces yet a 
third form, the so-called MARGINED ToRTOl.SE, wdiich attains the greater length of 1 1 inches, 
and is distinguished by the colour of the carapace usually being black, with a small spot of 
yellow on each shield-like plate. All three of the foregoing species are collectively imported 
by shiploads for sale in England, and it would be interesting to know what fate befalls 
them. In Greece and Sicily they are 
regularl}' placed on the market as an 
article of food. When acclimatised in 
England, and even in their warmer native 
country, these Grecian tortoises bury 
themselves in the earth and hibernate 
during the cold w'inter months. 
Next to the typical Land-tortoises 
the so-called Hinged Tortoises demand 
brief notice. The several members of 
this little group are denizens of tropical 
Africa, and notable for the circumstance 
that the hinder portion of their carapace 
is united with the anterior one by a 
movable ligamentous hinge. As a result 
of this peculiarity the animal, when 
ELEPHANT-TORTOISE retracted within its shell, can entirely 
Note the small size'if the head ’zvitk relation to the /tu^e carapace cloSC Up the hllldei apeitUie. NoilC of 
these forms e.xceed a length of 9 inches. 
In another group, distinguished by the title of Ho.K -TORTOISES, a ligamentous hinge is 
developed across the centre of the lower shell, or plastron, which, being freely movable with 
relation to the upper shell, enables the animal, when retracted, to completely close up both 
the anterior and posterior carapace apertures. The box tortoises are natives of the South- 
eastern United States and Mexico, and, in addition to the foregoing structural peculiarity, 
are distinguished by the high or vaulted contour of their carapace. In some the toes are 
slightly webbed, and their habits are mainly carnivorous, indicating affinity with the flesh- 
eating and essentially aquatic Terrapins. 
Between the two, however, have been intercalated a little group, known as the POND- 
TORTDISES, one species of which is found in Southern Europe, and a nearly allied one in 
North America. These pond-tortoises are distinguished by the smooth and depressed form 
of the carapace; the toes are fully webbed, fitting them for an aquatic life; while a 
ligamentous hinge, separating the anterior and posterior moieties of the plastron, enables 
them to cover in and protect their retracted head and limbs, after the manner of the Box- 
tortoises. The carapace of the luiropean pond-tortoise does not e.xceed 7.! inches in length, 
and is usually dark brown or black, ornamented with yellow dots or radiating streaks. This 
species inhabits both ponds and running water, and during the daytime creeps out on the banks. 
