. Reptiles and birds. A popular account of the 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 si
. Reptiles and birds. A popular account of the 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 theappearance of a beak closely resembling that of birds of prey. The Mud Tortoises {Cistiido etiropcea, 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. Although the flesh of. Fig. 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 Pleiiroderes 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 ToiioisQ {Ckelysiatamata, Fig. 36), belongs to this 150 REPTILES AND BIRDS. division. This species lives in stagnant water, and is altogether re-markable for its singular appearance—for its depressed, wi
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