TESTUDO, the tortoise, in natural tory, a genus of Amphibia of the order Reptiles. Generic character : body tail ed, covered above and beneath, defended by a bony covering, covered by a horny, scaly, or coriaceous integument ; a bony mouth, without distinct teeth, and the up per mandible closing over the. lower. These animals feed on sea-weeds or on worms, are extremely prolific ; but in the state of eggs, and while very young, are the prey of various animals. Their move ments are slow ; they are capable of be ing tamed, and will in that state eat al most any thing presented to them. They exist long in such air as would be de structive to other gnimals of the same size, and have such tenaciousness of life, that it is stated they will exhibit convulsive movements for several days after their bodies have been opened, and even after their heads have been cut off. In cold la titudes, the land tortoise is torpid during the winter. There are thirty-five species, of which we shall notice the fhllowing. T. Grxca, or the European tortoise. The weight of this animal is three pounds, and the length of its shell about seven inches. It abounds in the countries surrounding the Mediterranean, and particularly in Greece, where the inhabitants not only eat its flesh and eggs, but frequently swallow its warm blood. In September or October it conceals itself, remaining torpid till February, when it re-appears. In June it lays its eggs, in holes exposed to the full beams of the sun, by which they are matured. The males will fre quently engage in severe conflicts, and strike their heads against each other with great violence and very loud sounds. Tortoises attain most extraordinary lon gevity, and one was ascertained to have lived in the gardens of Lambeth, England, to the age of nearly 120 years. Its shell is preserved in the archiepiscopal palace. So reluctant is the vital principle to quit these animals, that Shaw informs us, from Redi, one of them lived for six months after all its brain was taken out, moving its limbs, and walking as before.
Another lived twenty-three days after its head was cut off, and the head itself open ed and closed its jaws for a quarter of an hour after its separation from the body. It may not only be tamed, but has in seve ral instances exhibited proofs in that state of considerable sagacity, in distinguish ing its benefactors, and of grateful at tachment in return for their kindness, notwithstanding its general sluggishness and torpor. It will answer the purpose of a barometer, and uniformly indicates the fall of rain before night, when it takes its food with great rapidity, and walks with a sort of mincing and elate step. It ap appears to dislike rain with extreme aver sion, and is discomfited and driven back only by a few and scarcely perceivable drops. See Amphibia, Plate II. fig.4. 1'. lutaria, or the mud tortoise, is com mon both in Europe and Asia, and parti cularly in France, where it is much used food. It is seven inches long ; lays its eggs on the ground, though an aquatic animal ; walks quicker than the land tor toise; and is often kept in gardens, to clear them from snails and various wing less insects. In fish-ponds it is very de structive, biting the fishes; and when they are exhausted iv the loss of blood, drag ging them to the bottom and devouring them.
T. ferox, or the fierce tortoise, is fbund in several parts of North America, and is eighteen inches long. It is rapid and vi gorous in its movement, and will spring on its enemy with great elasticity and vio lence. Its flesh is thought extremely good. It is found in the muddy parts of rivers, concealing itself among the weeds. It will also dart with great celerity on birds. But those of this genus most com monly used as food in the United States, are the T. concentrica, (Terrapin,) and the T. serpentaria, (Snapping Tortoise.) The sea tortoises, or turtles, are dis tinguished from the former, by having ve ry large and long feet, in the shape of fins, the claws of some of the toes not being visible, but inclosed.