The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1895-03-12
THE ADVOCATE.
The Tortoise And Turtle.

Mr.. Gilbert White, the naturalist
OF Selborne, tells us in his "Letters'
that the tortoise imprisoned in i.'
suit of armor is pitable reptile. Yet
he adds, it is quite lively sometimes
seemingly hunting about for some
way of escape from its enclosure, and
of gaining its liberty.
10 many persons the slow-paced
tortoise may seem to be a sorrow
worn, fear-struck burden-bearer. per-
chance, a "misfit." But in cold and
hungry circumstances an animal car
rying warm hotel upon its back for
sleeping purposes, rent free, while on
its travels, does not seem to be wholly
an object of pity.
The tortoise is found in various
parts of the world, being, however,
mostly confined to about the same lon
gitude in the different countries. Its
name comes from the Latin tortus,
abiding, doubtless, to the crooked
feet of the animal.
Pro 'sAgassiz differentiated the FAM
flies into two sub-orders, the Amy
doe, or tooteo tortoise, and Chellonii or
filmed tortoise. In his garden near
Boston, the turtle and tortoise were
sources of interest and pleasure for
hun, tor there he noted their habits
and found out many of their likes and
dislike,.
The eggs of the tortoise are deposit
ed just beneath the surface OF the
ground. When the baby tortoise
wakes up and comes forth from its
warm nest, its orphaned, motherless
conditio, sseems indeed pi liable. But
it early learns to gather up its daily
food and earn its livelihood, OUTLYING
many a petted animal. AS it hobbies
"through the aisles of the bitches" the
tortoise picks up numerous dainty
morsels, and lives life OF philoso-
phical independence.
The land tortoise ranks higher in
its development than its water rela-
tives. As the. former wanders over
stones, heritage and bare ground it
polishes its plastron or lower shell,
while the upper shell remains brown
and rough, and often spotted, or en-
broidered with yellow.
The box tortoise is furnished with
a hinge in the pastron, so that when
tired of walking it may draw in its
cold feet, lock its door, and lie down to
peaceful slumbers. In this condition
The animal may be rolled and tum-
bled around without apparent injury.
This animal is,very timid and gentle
and feeds on insects and fruit.
The flesh of the land tortoise was of
I'D pronounced unclean, but it is eX-
elsively used in some countries for
God. Some of the land tortoise of the |
galapagos Islands, situated west Of
iouth America, are eagerly sought
Dr. by crews of vessels, as they serve
he poor sailors as.fresh meat for
,ng time. Some of the largest tor
,ise of the Islands sometimes weigh |
Wo or three hundred pounds. 1t is
ated that tortoise may be cruelty |
ept in the hold of a vessel twelve
lonths without food or drink.
Doubtless the tenaCity of life in the
limal is very great, Stories are told
tortoise living for six months af-
revery vestige of the brain was re-
owed, and one is mentioned by Mr..
hite that lived for twenty-three
tys after its head was removed.
{. Gilbert White had pet tortoise
which he seemed to be very fond
said he was afraid of rain, and
ufiied off at the first sprinkle, rum
~ its head into corner
ct is totally diurnal ANIMAL" he
ites, "and never pretends to STIR
er dark. 1t is inatteutive to
angers, but hobbies toward its
,nds. 1t eats little in the spring, is
acious in summer, and its appe-
declines 80 that it eats but little in
autumn. Milky plants, such as
uce and dandelion just now, this
are its favorite dish"
Ir. Whites pet tortoise of note is
to have been far too wise
to walk into an open well, but il
It into the earth the middle of No
Der, and there remained until the
die of April. In the summer it