and other parts of the north of Europe. It is the most formidable bird of its tribe; its prey being not only fish, but (what is wonderful in a web-footed bird) all the lesser sorts of water-fowl, and (according to the account of Mr. Schroter, a surgeon of the Fero Isles) ducks, poultry, and even young lambs.

In defending its offspring it has the fierceness of the eagle. When the inhabitants of the Fero islands visit the nest of the Skua Gull, the parent birds attack them with such force, that, if they hold a knife perpendicularly over their heads, the Gulls will sometimes transfix themselves in their fall on the plunderers. The Rev. Mr. Low, minister of Birfa, in Orkney, informs us, that, on his approaching the habitations of these birds, they assailed him, and the company along with him, in the most violent manner; and intimidated a bold dog in such a manner as to drive him for protection to his master. The natives, while attending their cattle on the hills, are often very rudely treated by these birds; and they are frequently obliged to guard their heads by holding up their sticks, on which (in the manner mentioned above) the birds often kill themselves.

In Foula, the Skua Gulls are privileged; being said to defend the flocks from the attacks of the eagle, which they beat off and pursue with great fury; so that even that rapacious bird seldom ventures to approach the places which they inhabit. The natives of Foula on this account impose a fine upon any person who destroys one of these useful defenders: and deny that they ever injure their flocks or poultry; but imagine them to live only on the dung of the Arctic Gull and other larger birds.

AMPHIBIOUS ANIMALS*.

Reptiles+.

OF THE TORTOISE TRIBE.

THE animals of this tribe have an advantage over most others, even from their first seeing the light, in a solid and durable house; an asylum which is at the same time capable of resisting very powerful enemies, and yet is not fixed to one spot. They carry every where along with them the dwelling which their Creator has furnished, and under which they generally dwell in perfect security. This consists of two plates; the one above, and the other below, joined together at the sides. The upper one is convex, and into it the ribs and back-bone are ossified: the other contains the breast-bones, or sternum.

At each end of the two united shells, there is a hole; one for the head, neck, and fore-feet to pass through, and the other, at the opposite end, for the hinder feet, and the tail.

When these animals are inclined to walk or swim, they extend their head and feet from under their arThese parts, with the tail, are covered by a

mour.

* For a general account of the Amphibia, see vol. i. p. 30. The Reptiles are furnished with legs. They have flat, naked ears, without auricles.

The body is tailed, and covered above and bony or coriaceous shell, or above with scales. encloses the lower one like the lid of a box.

beneath with a The upper jaw

strong, flexible skin, which is fixed within, to the edges of the shells.

The head is small, and in the place of teeth it is furnished with hard and bony ridges. The upper jaw closes over the lower one like the lid of a box; and the strength of the jaws is said to be so great, that it is impossible for any person to open them when they have once fastened. Even after the head has been cut off, the muscles retain a surprising degree of rigidity.

The legs are short, but inconceivably strong. One of the larger species has been known to carry five men, all at the same time, on its back, with the greatest apparent ease and unconcern.

No animals are more tenacious of life than these: even if their head be cut off, and their chest be opened, they will continue to live for several days. The species that inhabit the land or the fresh-waters, subsist principally on worms, snails, and fish; and the others, which reside in the ocean, feed, for the most part, on seaweeds.

The Marine Tortoises, or Turtles, are distinguished from the others by their large and long fin-shaped feet, in which are enclosed the bones of the toes; the first and second only of each foot having visible or projecting claws.

Of these animals, there are, in the whole, about thirtysix species: four marine, eighteen inhabiting the fresh waters, and the rest residing on land.

THE COMMON OR GREEK TORTOISE *.

The upper shell of this Tortoise is so protuberant, that the animal is able, without much difficulty, to re

• DESCRIPTION. The common Tortoise is seldom more than eight or nine inches in length, nor does its weight often exceed three pounds. The shell, which (as in most of the other species) is composed of thirteen middle pieces, and about twenty-five marginal ones, is of an oval form, extremely con

cover its procumbent posture, if, by accident, it has been turned upon its back; and it does not, in this case, like some of the turtles, remain a prey to its enemies.

The jaws of the Greek Tortoise are moved by means of muscles, which have such extraordinary force and activity, that sometimes for more than half an hour after the head of the animal is cut off, they will gnash together with considerable force.

For extreme slowness in all its movements, the Tortoise has been notorious, even from the most remote periods of antiquity. This is principally occasioned by the position of the legs, which are situated very much towards the sides of the body, and are consequently spread far out from each other. It may likewise be in some degree caused by the great weight of the shell pressing on this unfavourable position of the legs. In walking, the claws of the fore-feet are rubbed separately, and one after another, against the ground; when one of the feet comes in contact with the ground, the inner claw first bears the weight of the body, and so on along the claws in succession to the outermost. The foot in this manner acts somewhat like a wheel.

This species resides principally in burrows that it forms in the ground. In these it sleeps away the great

vex, and broader behind than before. The middle part is blackish brown, varied with yellow. The under 'part or belly of the shell is of a pale yellow, with a broad dark line down each side, leaving the middle part plain. The head is not large, nor does the opening of the mouth extend beyond the eyes: the upper part is covered with somewhat irregular scales. The legs are short, and the feet moderately broad, and covered with strong ovate scales. The tail is somewhat shorter than the legs: it is also covered with scales, but terminates in a horny tip.

This animal is found in most of the countries near the Mediterranean Sea, in Corsica, Sardinia, and some of the islands. of the Archipelago, as well as in many parts of the north of Africa.

SYNONYMS. Testudo Græca. Linnæus.-Le Grecque. La Cepede. Common Land Tortoise, Greek Tortoise. Gen. Zool. vol. iii. tab. 1.

Shaw's

est part of its time, appearing abroad only for a few hours in the middle of each day. It feeds on various kinds of herbs, fruit, worms, snails, and insects; but never attacks warm-blooded animals nor fish. Its manners are exceedingly gentle and peaceable; hence it is easily domesticated, and is an agreeable object in gardens, where it destroys noxious slugs and insects. In defect of its usual food, it may be supplied with, and will live sufficiently well on bran or meal.

In the autumn it retires to some hiding-place under the surface of the earth, where it remains in a state of torpor for four or five months, not again making its appearance abroad until re-called into life by the warmth of the vernal sun. About the beginning of June, the female, when in her native wilds, scratches a hole in some warm situation, where she deposits her four or five eggs. These are hatched in September; and the young-ones when they first come into the world, are not bigger than a walnut.

These animals have been often brought into England. The Rev. Mr. White, of Selbourne, attended accurately to the manners of one that, for upwards of thirty years, was in the possession of a lady of his acquaintance who resided in Sussex. It regularly retired underground about the middle of November, whence it did not emerge until about the middle of April. Its appetite was always most voracious in the height of summer, eating very little either in the spring or autumn. Milky plants, such as lettuces, dandelions, and sowthistles, were its principal food. In scraping the ground to form its winter retreat, it used its fore feet, and threw up the earth with its hinder ones over its back; but the motion of its legs was so slow, as scarcely to exceed the hour-hand of a clock. It worked with the utmost assiduity, both night and day, in scooping out the earth, and forcing its great body into the cavity; notwithstanding which, the operation occupied more than a fortnight before it was completed.

It was always extremely alarmed when surprised by