New-York tribune., 1903-05-03


and look so much alike that they cannot be told
apart. Jumbo is master of the flock. Whenever
a new one is brought in. he makes war on the
newcomer until he has him completely subdued,
which he is easily able to accomplish on ac-
count of his superior size and strength. He
uses the horny protuberance under his neck as
a sort of battering ram with which he punches
the stranger until ne is completely coWed.
Sometimes the battle lasts Tor several days be
fore Jumbo considers the interloper sufhclently
disciplined to be taken into the family. After
that all is peace, but all the smaller turtles
know enough to stand pack at meal time until
Jumbo has had chance II gObbe up all the
daintest morsels of focd. The crispest punches
Of lettuce and the juicest pums are always his.
After breakfast the turtles roam around the
exhibit hall. sometimes singly. sometimes III
pairs. or in a flock Jumbo usually heading the
procession They know all the sunny spots ana
move from window to window to hask III the
sunshine They like to sleep the sun. and a
kitten which formerly belonged TO the exhibit
was III the abit Of coIling itself up on Jumbo $
back whenever he settled down for a nap in a
sunny corner. Il Was funny tn see the cat jump
off in = startled manner whenever Jumbo con
cuded il was tine 10 move on.
The strange creatures excite the curiosity of
visitors who spend hours in watching their de-
Ifberata manpuvres. The fame Of the turtles
has gone abroad throughout the land, and the
frs: question asked by many tourists visiting
the Chamber of Commerce is Where are the
turtles" Some inquire after the ARIZONA bed
bugs and others want to the walking
snuff boxes" as some Irish wag has named
them.
Some of the turtles have q habit of cIitW ling
under the skirts OF women viewing the Chamber
of Commerce exhibits and startling the women
bv nippiug their toes. I'm hysterical scream and
d scamper to climb Oh a bench or chair are the
usual results. and the sense of humor seems to
he suffC ientIy developed in the turtles for them
TO enjoy the fun.
During their long captivity none of the turtles
have ever been sick. but Arizona once met with
= serious accident He tried to walk down Il
fieyh, of stairs A.. ~ down the steps crack
ing his shell on tie bac., that the blood
oozed through A piece of bicycle tape was
nasted over the crack, and in the course Of time
il healed ND so that his shell is now again as
sound as ever.
Jumbo and a few of his companions have
travelled extensively. They have been to the
worlds fairs at Chicago, San Francisco At
lanta, Nashville, Omaha and Buffalo, at each
of which they formed part of the California
hibit. and they will be at the Louisiana Pur-
chase Exposition at St. Louis next year.
The queer animals display remarkable lntelll-
gence in recognizing their friends. They have
learned TO distinguish the Chamber OF Com
merce attendants and officials from strangers
They manifest a real affection for Secretary
Virgins. who has had charge Of them on their
travels about the country and who has always
made great pets of them. Some time ago Mr.
Virgins was absent from his duties at the
Chamber of Commerce for period of three
months During all that time the turtles never
once crawIed into the secretary's office where
= strange secretary was ensconced for the time
being. as had been their daily habit when MT
IViqgins was at home. But on the very day of
his rernrn the whole seven made their accus-
toned visit to his room and took up their old
nositioD under his chaiI 1t was such welcome
home as the popular secretary had not eA-
pected.
Great as is the desire to see this interesting
family of reptiles, they cannot be seen during
the winter months When cool weather ap-
proaches along about November they become
DUH and torpid, and hide away in dark corners
Then they are gathered up, wrapped in burlap
and p,lt iato a box, which is nailed up and
stored cay IN a dark room. In their coZy bed
they -,,-r, sSinterruptedly until about the first
knock against the sides Of ,he box, 10 let their
aiIer anu~ that spring has come and that it Is