Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-06-17
ToRPIpITY oE THE. TORTOISE.

Il
the title of Erperiusntal Researches, few pa
pers written by him at various periods, on in
terestinp subjects in Natural History. There
are six in number, viz, ION the Light and Lu-
minious Matter Of the Glow-worm-On the
Luminosity of the Sea,-On the Phenomena OF
the CbameIeon.-On the Ascent OF the Spider
into the Atmosphere,-and on Torpidity, as
| connected with the IEstudo Greca, or Common
Tortoise" SC From the last Of these we ex-
tract his observe atoms on the Torpidi,y OF the
Tortoise, referring to the book itself for the
| previous details, and much curious information
on the subjects OF the different essays.
| "The tortoise may be occasionally met with
in gardens in this country The Iestudo geonef-
RIGA have certainly seen here; but the occur
renee is rare. One Of three tortoises (the COM
mon) laid three eggs in garden at Montrose W
one of these forwarded 10 Professor jameson,
of Edinburgh. The size 10 which this creature
occasionally attains is quite monstrous, | re-
member, some years ago, to have seen one, then
semi torpid, exhibited near Exeter Change
London, which weighed, if recollect Alright,
several hundred weighf. It's shell was propotion'
ally thick, and its other dimensions bore cor
responding ratio. 1t was stated to be about
800 years old. In the library at Lambeth Pal
ace is the shell Of land tortoise, brought there
about the year 1928; it lived until 1880, and was
killed by the inclemency Of the weather during
frost, in consequence Of the carlessness OF
Iabourer in the garden, who for trfling wager
dug ii up from its winter retreat, and neglected
to replace it. Another tortoise was placed in
the garden of the Episcopal Palace at Fulham,
by Bishop Laud, when Bishop Of that see, in
1923: this appears to have died a natural death
II &c yhat hpIr
eral ages when placed in the gardens. That OF
which am about to give an account, l saw in
the Bishops garden at Peterborough, adjoln
ing the Cathedral, in the summer OF 1918. 1t
died only four or five years ago, Why this
Episcopal prediction is question perhaps
not unworthy antiquarian research! The reslu-
do graca is found in the Island of Sardinia -
generally weighing four pounds, and its usually
computed age is about sixty wears.
From document belonging to the archives
ofthe Cathedral, called the Bishops Barn, it is
well ascertained tina, the tortoise at Peterbo
rough must have been abou, TWO hundred years
old. Bishop Marsh's predecessor in the See OF
Peterborough had remembered it above sixty
years, and could recognize no visible change.
He was the seventh Bishop who had worn the
mitre during its sojourrf there. III mistake
in this document It's shell was perforated, in
order 10 attach it to tree, etc. to limit its raw
ages among the strawberry borders.
The animal had its antipathes and prediIec-
tons. 1t would eat endi,e, green peas, and e
ven the leek-while it positively rejected as
paragus, parsley, and spinage. In the early
parl OF the season, its favourite pablum were
the flowers of the dandelion Leon odon tarara-
N~c. u
and lettuce Lactuca satiUa,) Of the latter good
sized one at time, but if placed between let
tuce and the flowers Of the dandeion, it would
forsake the former for the latter. 1t was also
partial 10 the pulp of an orange which it sucked
greedily.
About the latter end of June, Discerning the
times and the seasons,) it looked OUT for fruit,
when its fVrmer choice was forsakeu. Ii ate
currants, raspberres, pears, apples, peaches,
nectarincs. sc. the ripper the better, but would
not taste cherries. OF fruits, however, the
strawberry and goosberry were the most esteem
ed; it made great havoc among the strawberry
borders, and would take pirt Of gooscberries
at inter, ais. The gardener told me i, knew
him we'll the hand that generally fed it-and
would watch HIM a,ten'hcly al The gooseberry
bush, where ii vas sure TO take its station while
ne plufk the lfhu.
l could not get it to take the root of the dan
delion, nor indeed any root offered il--as that
of The carrot, ,urnip, Sc. All animal food was
discarded, nor would i: take any liquid, at least
neither milk nor warer; and when leaf was
moist, it would shake il TO expel the adhering
wet
This animal moved with apparent ease,
though pressed bya weight Of lS stones; itself
weighed Is ID lbs In cloudy weather, it
would scoop out cavity, generally in south
ern exposure, where i, reposed, torpid and in
active until. the genial influence of the sun
reused it from its sium5er When in this |
state the eyes were closed, and the head and
neck little contracted, though not drawn with,
in the she'll l,ssense of smelling was so a.
cute hat it was reused from its lethargy if any
person approached even at a distance Of IL feet
About the beginning Of October, Cor latter
end Of September) it began TO immune Itself &
had for that purpose for many years selected
particular angle of the garden; it entered in an
inclined plane, excavating the earln in the man
ner OF the mole; the depth 10 which ii penetrat-
ed varied with the character Of the approach
ing season, being from one TO two feet, accord
lug as the winter was mild or severe. 1t may
be added that for nearly month prior to this
entry into its dormfory, it refused all susie
nance whatever. The animal emerged about
the end Of April, and remained Tor at lea, d