30 
NATURAL HISTORY. [uPPER FLOOR. 
Those Tortoises which live in water have more depressed 
shells than the Land Tortoises; their feet are expanded and 
webbed between the toes^ and the latter are furnished with 
sharp claws. They are divided into three groups, viz. the 
Terrapins {Ernys), which have twelve horny plates on the 
chest-bone or sternum, and withdraw the head and neck 
between the shells ; as the Dhor Terrapin {Emys dentata), 
from India; the Banded Terrapin [Emysvittata), and Lake 
Erie Terrapin {Emys Lesueuri), from America. These are 
much used as food by the Americans. Amongst these is a 
monstrosity with two heads. 
Those of the second group ( Chelys) have an additional 
horny plate on the front of the sternum, and bend the neck 
back under the side margin of the shell; as the Radiated 
Chelys {Hydraspis radiolata). 
The fresh-water Tortoises of the third group (Trionyx)^ 
are peculiar from having the shell covered with a naked 
skin, and only three toes of each foot provided with claws. 
They, like the rest, are strictly carnivorous, and eat their 
food in the water. Many large specimens of this genus 
are found in the East Indies, and are frequently seen prey¬ 
ing on human bodies as they float down tho Ganges. 
There are in this Case young specimens of two of the; e 
species, the Hurum Trionyx {Trionyx hurum), and the 
Punctated Trionyx (Trionyx punctatus). The latter is 
peculiar for the leg, when drawn up, being covered by a 
moveable flap placed on the sides of the chest. 
The Marine Tortoises or Turtles (Chelonim), are distin¬ 
guished by their feet being compressed and fin-shaped; 
they live principally on fuci and sea-weeds. These are 
the Tortoises most commonly used as food, and great 
quantitiesi^^^fbf one species (Test. Midas) are annually 
brought England for that purpose. The horny 
plates of4lie Imbricated Turtle (Test, imhricata) afford the 
best sort of tortoise-shell. Over the mantel-piece is a 
large specimen of the Coriaceous Turtle, caught on the 
coast of Dorsetshire. 
The Alligators are peculiar to America, and are dis¬ 
tinguished from the Crocodiles, which are found both in 
the Old and New world, by their feet having the toes free, 
that is, unconnected by webs, and by the canine teeth of the 
lower jaw being received in pits in the upper; whereas, in 
the Crocodiles, they are received in a notch on its margin. 
