sensitive to the approach of an enemy, and the first that perceives the coming danger tumbles off its perch and falls into the water with a great splash that arouses the fears of all its companions, who go tumbling and splashing into the water in all directions, and in a few seconds not a Tortoise is to be seen where they were so plentiful before they took alarm.

The Chicken Tortoise swims well, but not rapidly, and as it passes along with its head and neck elevated above the surface, it looks so like the dark water-snake of the same country, that at a little distance it might readily be mistaken for that reptile.

It is rather a small species, seldom exceeding ten inches in length. Its flesh is remarkably excellent, very tender and delicately flavoured, something like that of a young chicken, so that this Tortoise is in great request as an article of food, and is largely sold in the markets, though not so plentifully as the common salt-water terrapin. Its colour is dark brown above, and the plates are scribbled with yellow lines, and wrinkled longitudinally. The neck is long in proportion to the size of the animal, so long indeed that the head and neck together are almost as long as the shell. The lower jaw is hooked in front.

AN allied species, popularly called the QUAKER TORTOISE and scientifically Emys olivacea, is remarkable for the extreme length of the claws of the fore feet, the three middle claws being elongated in a manner that irresistibly reminds the observer of the nails belonging to a Chinese mandarin of very high rank.

The SALT-WATER TERRAPIN is a well-known species, living in North and South America, where it is in great request for the table.

The generic name of Malaclemys, or Soft Terrapin, has been given to this species on account of the formation of the head, which is covered with soft spongy skin. The head is large in proportion to the size of the animal and flattened above.

This Terrapin lives in the salt-water marshes, where it is very plentiful, and from which it never travels to any great distance. During the warm months of the year, it is lively and constantly searching after prey, but when the cold weather comes on, it burrows a hole in the muddy banks of its native marsh and there lies buried until the warm sunbeams of spring break its slumbers and induce it once more to seek the upper earth and resume its former active existence.

It is more active in its movements than is the case with the Tortoises in general, and can not only swim rapidly, but walk with tolerable speed. It is very shy, and discovers approaching peril with a keenness of perception that could scarcely be expected from one of these shielded reptiles, whose dulness and torpidity have long been proverbial.

Mr. Holbrook, in his valuable "North American Herpetology," writes as follows concerning this Terrapin.

"They are very abundant in the salt marshes around Charleston, and are easily taken when the female is about to deposit her eggs in the spring and early summer months. They are then brought in immense numbers to market; yet, notwithstanding this great destruction, they are so prolific that their number appears undiminished. Their flesh is excellent at all times, but in the northern cities it is most esteemed when the animal has been dug out of the mud in its state of hibernation. The males are smaller than the females, and have the concentric striæ more deeply impressed."

The colour of this Salt-water Terrapin is rather variable, but is usually dark greenish brown on the upper surface, and yellow on the plates which surround the edge of the shell. Below it is yellow, and in many specimens it is marked with variously shaped spots of dark grey. The lower jaw is furnished with a hook, and the sides of the head are dusty white sprinkled with many small black spots.

VERY many species of Tortoise are extremely variable in their colour, but there are few which are so remarkable in this respect as the creature which is appropriately named the Box TORTOISE.

This species belongs to America, and is found spread over the whole of the Northern States. It is very plentiful in the localities which it favours, and although so small a creature, is able by means of its wonderful organization to protect itself against almost every foe. Many of the Tortoises can withdraw their limbs and head into their shell, leaving open, however, the apertures through which this movement is achieved, so that the animal might be killed or hooked out by a persevering foe, such as the jaguar, which is known to attack turtles, insinuate its lithe paw within the shell, and scoop out the inhabitant with its sharp curved claws.

But in those instances where the animal has the power of closing the openings through which the legs, tail, and head protrude, there is hardly any mode of getting at the flesh without breaking the shell, a feat beyond the power of any animal, except perhaps an elephant, to perform. Certain birds, it is said, are clever enough to soar to a great height with the Tortoise, and break the shell by letting it fall upon a convenient rock, but this

story does not seem to be very strongly attested. Several species possess this valuable capability, but none to so perfect a degree as the Box Tortoise, which, according to the Rev. Sydney Smith's felicitous summary, need fear no enemy except man and the boa constrictor, the former taking him home and roasting him, and the latter swallowing him entire and consuming him slowly in its interior, as the Court of Chancery does a large estate.

With regard to this curious propensity, it is evident that there is some analogy between these Tortoises and certain mammalia, which are also able to withdraw themselves within the protection of certain armour with which they are furnished. In the case of the hedgehog the animal assumes more of an offensive than a defensive character, and relies, not on an impenetrable covering, for the skin is soft, and a pointed weapon can find an easy entrance between the spines, but on the bristly array of bayonet-like spikes that protrude their threatening points in every direction, and bid a tacit defiance to the foe.

The scale-covered manis again, although guarded with successive layers of broad, horny plates, is, in point of fact, less protected when rolled up than when walking quietly along; for when at rest, the scales overlap each other like the tiles of a house, so that any weapon would glance aside, but when curled up the scales are erected and leave a passage for the arrow or the spear between them.

The real defence of the hedgehog lies in the points of its quills, and of the manis in the razor-like edges of its scales, but the defence of the Tortoise is wholly inaggressive, and is more allied to that of the armadillo or perhaps the singular pichiciago (Chlamydophorus truncatus), a most remarkable little creature with a curious shelly covering spread over nearly the whole upper surface and down the hind quarters. A description of this animal may be found in the volume on the Mammalia, page 770. There are again many of the lower animals which have a similar mode of defence, a very familiar example being the well-known pill-woodlouse so common in our gardens, which rolls itself into a round ball when alarmed, and permits itself to be handled and even rolled along the ground without displaying any signs of life.

The Box Tortoise is a terrestrial species, and always keeps to the dry forest-lands, detesting the vicinity of water. It is commonly found in the pine forests, because they are always on thoroughly dry soil, and on account of its fondness for such localities is

sometimes known by the popular name of the Pine Terrapin. The negroes call it by the name of Cooter. In the wild state it mostly feeds on insects, and is peculiarly fond of the cricket tribe, but in captivity it will eat almost any food that is offered, taking insects, meat, apples, or even bread.

It is a very little creature, being when adult a very little more than six inches in length. In colour it is extremely variable, but is generally yellowish brown, striped with a brighter hue, and sometimes mottled with black. Of a number of specimens in the British Museum, no two are exactly alike, some being yellow, spotted with black, while others exactly reverse these tints, and are black, spotted with yellow. Others again are yellow with black rays, and others olive with yellow rays and streaks. The carapace has a very slight keel along its upper edge.

The upper jaw of this species is furnished with a rather broad hook, and the lower jaw is also hooked, but not so boldly.

THE Common MUD TORTOISE, SO called from its mud-haunting propensities, is an example of rather a curious genus of Tortoises, inhabiting America.

It is an odd little creature, being when adult not quite four inches in length, and moving with moderate speed. It is mostly found in ponds and muddy pools, where it feeds upon fish, aquatic insects, and similar diet, catching even the active fish without much difficulty. I lately saw some aquatic Tortoises, which I think belonged to this genus,

14

THE ALLIGATOR TERRAPIN.

which had to be ejected from a large basin of a fountain because they killed the newts which inhabited the same locality. Their movements in the water were so deliberate that it was not until they were detected in the very act of biting the newts that their delinquencies were discovered. Their mode of attack was simply to creep under their victim as it balanced itself in the water or swam gently within reach, and then to secure it with a quiet snap of its beak.

Like the lettered terrapin, already mentioned, it has a vexatious habit of taking the angler's bait, and causes many a fisherman to lose his temper when pulling up a useless little Mud Tortoise instead of the fish on which he had set his heart. It seizes the worm just as it catches the newts, taking it so quietly into its mouth that the float is hardly shaken by the touch. But when the fisherman pulls his line, the Tortoise kicks, pulls and flounces about in so energetic a style that it often deludes the angler into the idea that he has hooked quite a fine fish.

This species has a decided smell of musk, a peculiarity which is found in others of the same genus, one of which (Kinosternon odoratum) goes by the appropriate, though not very refined, name of Stink-pot, in consequence of the powerful musky odour which it exudes.

The colour of the Mud Tortoise is mostly dusky brown above, and chestnut below, though this colouring is liable to some variation in different individuals. The tail is thick and pointed, and horny at the tip. The head is large, and there are four large warty appendages on the chin.

THE last example of the Terrapin is that singular animal which is appropriately called the ALLIGATOR TERRAPIN, from the great resemblance which it bears to that reptile.

It is also an American species, and lives mostly in the water. When adult it reaches a large size, often exceeding three feet in length, and as it is very fierce of disposition, lithe of neck, and strong of jaw, it is somewhat dreaded by those who have had a practical acquaintance with its powers. The jaws of this animal are sharp edged, and remarkably strong, cutting like the blades of steel shears. Mr. Bell remarks that he has seen one of these creatures bite asunder a stick of half an inch in diameter. When caught, therefore, the captors always cut off these dangerous heads at once.

Mr. Holbrook gives the following interesting account of the Alligator Terrapin and its habits:

"It is found in stagnant pools or in streams where the waters are of sluggish motion. Generally they prefer deep water, and live at the bottom of rivers; at times, however, they approach the surface, above which they elevate the tip of their pointed snout, all other parts being concealed, and in this way they float slowly along with the current, but if disturbed, they descend speedily to the bottom.

They are extremely voracious, feeding on fish, reptiles, or any animal substance that falls in their way. They take the hook readily, whatever may be the bait, though most attracted by pieces of fish; in this way many are caught for market. It is, however, necessary to have strong hooks and tackle, otherwise they would be broken, for the animal puts forth great strength in its struggles to escape, both with its firm jaws and by bringing its anterior extremities across the line. When caught, they always give out an odour of musk, more or less distinct; sometimes in very old animals it is so strong as to be disagreeable.

Occasionally it leaves the water, and is seen on the banks of rivers or in meadows, even at a distance from its accustomed element. On land, his motions are awkward: he walks slowly, with his head, neck, and long tail extended, elevating himself on his legs like the alligator, which at that time he greatly resembles in his motions. Like the alligator also, after having walked a short distance, he falls on his sternum to rest for a few moments, and then proceeds on his journey.

In captivity they prefer dark places, and are exceedingly ferocious; they will seize upon and bite severely anything that is offered them, and their grasp upon the object with their strong jaws is so tenacious, that they may even be raised from the ground without loosing their hold.