TESTUDO, the TORTOISE, in zoology; a genus belonging to the class of amphibia, and order of reptilia. The body has a tail, and is defended with a bony or coriaceous covering. The mouth has naked mandibles without teeth. There are 33 species, of which the midas or common sea-turtle is the most remarkable. It is found in the island of Ascension and other places in the South Sea. The shell is so very strong that it can carry more than 600 lbs. on its back, or as many men as can stand on it loaded. It digs round holes in the sand, in which it lays a vast number of eggs yearly, to the amount of 1000, it is said. It broods on them during the night. Its flesh is of a greenish colour, makes excellent food, and is the favourite dish of sailors as well as of epicures. It lives on cuttle and shell fish, and grows to a prodigious size, some having been found to weigh 480 lbs.
The Americans find so good account in catching turtle, that they have made themselves very expert at it: they watch them from their nests on shore, in moon-light nights; and, before they reach the sea, turn them on their backs, and leave them till morning; when they are sure to find them, since they are utterly unable to recover their former posture: at other times they hunt them in boats, with a peculiar kind of spear, striking them with it through the shell; and as there is a cord fastened to the spear, they are taken much in the same manner as the whales.
Mr White, in his Natural History of Selborne, mentions a land-tortoise which had been kept for 30 years at Ringmer near Lewes. It retired under ground about the middle of November, and came forth again about the middle of April. At its first appearance in spring it showed little inclination for food; in the height of summer it became voracious; its appetite again diminished toward autumn, so that for the last six weeks it scarcely ate any thing at all. It lived chiefly on milky plants, such as lettuces, dandelions, and low-thistles. Nothing surprised Mr White more than the extreme timidity it always showed for rain; for though it had a shell that would secure it against the wheel of a loaded cart, yet it discovered as much solicitude about rain as a fine lady dressed in her best attire, shuffling away on the first sprinklings.
Testudo lings, and running its head up in a corner. It not only slept during winter, but for a great part of the summer; for it went to bed in the longer days at four in the morning, and often did not stir in the morning till it was late. There was one season usually about the beginning of June when its exertions were remarkable. It then rose by five in the morning, and walked on tip toe, traversing the garden, examining every wicket and interstice in the fences. The motives that led it to these ramblings seemed to be of the amorous kind. Mr White says it was an excellent weather-glass; for whenever it walked upright and fed with great avidity in the morning, it rained before night. It showed great sagacity in discerning those who did it kind offices; for whenever the old lady who had fed it for 30 years came in sight, it hobbled towards her with awkward alacrity.