. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . seskin, under the middle of the carapace ; the head, the width ofwhich is nearly equal to the height at the occiput; the eyes alwayslateral, and their orbit so large that the diameter of the cavitynearly equals a fourth of the whole cranium ; and the jaws, which arestrong, sometimes trenchant, in others are dentated on the the larger number of species the anterior extremity of the upper MARSH TORTOISES, 149 beak is notched with a strong tooth on each
. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . seskin, under the middle of the carapace ; the head, the width ofwhich is nearly equal to the height at the occiput; the eyes alwayslateral, and their orbit so large that the diameter of the cavitynearly equals a fourth of the whole cranium ; and the jaws, which arestrong, sometimes trenchant, in others are dentated on the the larger number of species the anterior extremity of the upper MARSH TORTOISES, 149 beak is notched with a strong tooth on each side, producing theapjDcarance of a beak closely resembling that of birds of prey. The Mud Tortoises {Cistudo europcEa, Fig. 34), sometimes calledthe Yellow Tortoises, are very abundant in Europe. They are foundin Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and in the southern provinces ofFrance ; also in Hungary, Germany, and as far north as inhabit lakes, marshes, and ponds, at the bottom of which theybury themselves in the mud. They live principally upon insects,molluscs, aquatic worms, and small fishes. Althougii the flesh of. f»• 35-—Box Tortoise. the Mud Tortoise is far from being palatable, it is nevertheless eatenin countries where they are common. The Emydes are divided into four considerable groups—namely,the European group, of which the Box Tortoise (Fig. 35) is typical;the American group, containing twelve or fourteen species, of whichthe justly celebrated Diamond-backed Terrapin is one; the African,seven species ; and Oriental group, about twelve species. The Plemode7es have the neck retractile on one side of thecarapace, without their having the power of drawing it between theirfore feet, and under the buckler and plastron, like the Bearded Tortoise {Chelys matamata, Fig. 36), belongs to this qo REPTILES AND BIRDS. division. This species lives in stagnant water, and is altogether re-markable for its singular appearance—for its depressed,
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectreptiles, bookyear1
