47 
TENTH ROOM. 
The upright Cases round the room contain 
the general collection of Reptiles in spirits. 
Case 1 contains the shielded Reptiles (Ctf- 
taphracta ), which have the body covered with 
two shields, sometimes formed of bones, and at 
others of bony plates imbedded in the skin; 
as the Tortoises ( Testudo , Lin.) and Crocodiles 
( Crocodilus , Cuv.). 
The feet of the Tortoises differ in form ac¬ 
cording to the habits of the animals. Those 
which live on land ( Testudo ) have club-shaped 
feet, and very solid, convex shells. Amongst 
these are the common Tortoise (Testudo Grceca), 
frequent in the north of Africa and the south of 
Europe ; and the Tabular Tortoise (Test. Ta¬ 
bula tci), from the Brazils. These chiefly live on 
vegetable substances, and bury themselves in 
the ground during the winter. Their eggs, 
some of which are exhibited, are of a globular 
form. Some of the American sailors use these 
animals extensively as food, they being found 
in great abundance in the Gallipagos. 
Those Tortoises which live in water have 
more depressed shells than the Land Tor¬ 
toises, and their feet expanded and webbed be¬ 
tween the toes, which are furnished with sharp 
claws. They have been divided into three 
groups. 1st. The Terrapin ( Emys ), which have 
twelve 
