THE STORY OF THE TORTOISE . 
329 
With the usual hardihood of reptiles, the rejected individuals appear to 
recover completely from this severe operation. 
The Matamata is certainly the most remarkable of aspect among all the 
tortoises, and perhaps may lay claim to be considered one of the oddest- 
SOFT SHELL RIVER TORTOISE. 
looking animals in the world, far exceeding in its grotesque ungainliness 
even the wild and weird creations of the Middle Age painters. 
This tortoise inhabits South America, and is most plentiful in Cayenne. 
Formerly it was very common, but on account of the excellence of its flesh, 
