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The AFRICAN LA N D-TOR TO ISE.
T      H E Figure reprefents it of its natural Bignefs: I had the Male and
Fermnle
of this Species; they lived two Years with me, in the Garden of the College
Y'
Rby/icians, London. In the warm Months they copulated by Leaping, in the
co.a-
mon Way of moft four-footed Animals.  I was in Hopes of propagating the Species,
but could never fee any of their Eggs in the Places where they fcraped Holes.
The Iris of the Eye was of a reddifl HIafel.Colour; the Lips were hard, like
the
Bill of a Bird; the Head was cover'd with Scales of a yellowifh Colour; the
Neck,
hinder Legs and Tail, were covered xvith a flexible Skiin of a dirty Fleflh-Colour,
that
they might be the more pliable to be put forth and drawn into the Shell.
The Fore-
Legs were cover'd with yellow Scales on their Outfides, which are partly
expofed
when the Legs are drawn in. The Shell is round, and pretty much rifing on
its
upper Side, and flat underneath; it is divided into many Compartments, or
feparate
Scales, which have Furrows or Creafes all round them, leffening one within
another
to the middle Part of each Scale. The Shell is of a yellowish Colour, clouded
and
fpotted with large and finall irregular Spots of Dufky or Black; the Vent
is in the.
Tail itfelf, which the Female turns up in Coition, and the Male turns his
Tail in-
ward under it, which brings the Vents of each to touch. It hath five Claws
on each
Foot forwards, and four on each of the hinder Feet. When they apprehend Danger,
they draw the Head, Tail and Legs into the Shell, fo that they cannot be
eafily
hurt.
This Tortoife was fent to me from Santa-C'ruz in TWe/_ Barbary, by my late
Friend,
Mr. Thomas Rawlings, Merchant, who died there [Anno 1748] after foame Years
Settlement in that Country.
7dhe fimo;2 /fotted G R E Y L I Z A R D.
I T S natural Bignefs is exprefs'd by the Figure: It is rather covered with
a rough
Skin than with Scales; it is all over of an Afh, or greyifh Colour; the Skin
is a
little rough or warty ; it is fpotted on its upper Side with fmall dulky
Spots; on the
Belly with larger; and had forne Rings of the fame dufky Colour round its
Tail. It
bath five Toes on each of its Feet; the Toes are all of equal Length, contrary
to what
they are in other Lizards. I take it to be a Species of that Genus of moift
Lizards,
which we in. England call Efis, which are commonly found in wettifh Places,
and
under Stones. This was brought from Turkey, and given to my worthy Friend,
Dr.
'ohn Fothergill, of the College of Phyf'icians, London, who obliged me with
a Sight of
it. It is near of Kin to Petiver's fmall arolina Salamander. See his Catalogue,
Fig.
53 S. It is of the Bignefs, and near the Shape of the above described, but
differs prin-
cipally in having larger and mnore diflinCt Spots; the Colour of it is not
mentioned.
CTee