T A B . XXVI.
T E S T U D O SULCATA.
C H A R A C T E R GENERICUS.
Corpus tetrapodum, caudatum; tella obteiStum.
Os mandibulis nudis, edentulis. LIN. SYST. NAT. p. 350.
C H A R A C T E R SPECIFICUS.
T . caudata, pedibus digitatis, tefta glbba : fcutellis lineatis fulco circumfcriptis.
G M E L . SYST. N A T . p. 1045.
G E N E R I C CHARACTER,
Bo^y four-footed, tailed, covered with a ihell.
Mouth furnifbed with naked mandibles without teeth.
S P E C I F I C CHARACTER.
Tailed Tortoife, with the divifions or pieces of the Ihield lineated and circumicribed by a
T
Í'
THE natural flownefs and apparent habitual dulnefs of the animals of this genus have paffed
into a proverb; and moil of the fpecies in great meafure juftify the obfervation: yet as moft
general rules admit of exceptions, it is remarkable that one particular fpecies is known, which
feems to poilefs a degree of fpirit and ferocity unknown to the reit of the genus, and iprings
forwards when dillurbed, with Ibme degree of aftivity, to attack the invader.* The genus
Teftudo is pretty numerous, and lb great is the general fnnilarity between fome fpecies, that
they arc with difficulty difliinguifhed. Thofe fpecies which inhabit the waters are often furniflicd
with pinnated feet, or feet of fuch a ftruSure as to refemble fins; being very broad, and
not divided into feparate toes as in the land tortoifes, but merely armed with two or three claws
• Tcliudo fcros. Scliiieider. Tclludo canilaginea. Boddart. Phil. Tranf. I771. vol. Gi.