THe Land-Tortoys is called by some the hill,* 1.1 wood, field, wild-one; in Greek Chersaian, &c. It is as the Salmander markt with yellow, and black spots on the back, shelled like the sea-one. The un∣der-shell of the female is plain, but of the male hollow, and heavier; under the under-shells are two moving muscles afore, on each side one, either seems double,* 1.2 the greater outward, the lesse inward; both rising sideling as out of the arm-pits, springing from a thin skin clinging to the shell, and ending in a sharp tendon; under these long, round muscles six other appeares long that haply bend the arms. Two come to the thighs sprouting from the foresaid mem∣brane, these are lesse then the former, but more fleshy, and are set into the thighs. The back-bone is compact, and fastened strongly to the shell, in the middle of the length. Below the head in the midst a fingers breath from the sides descend two muscles, plucking the head inward, and two other a little below, all long. The liver is parted but alike big on the right, and left side, without bunched, within hollow, on the right side craggy containing in a strange workmanship the nether mouth of the sto∣mack, and a part of the duodenum; the left side holding the greater hollow of the stomack, like a hollow eyebrow. The gall-bag lies deep in the right string of the liver. The stomack nearly resembles a mans, or swines; but after it comes to the bowells it hath three large hol∣lows, wherein are perfected the three dige∣stions. In the two first is a herby substance, the latter better wrought, and from hence cleaves the milt round, and black; in the third a cer∣tain moystish, and very white substance, like a chewed chesnut, but washy. It is thought this serves for a bladder, that, as Hens use, darts out sometimes a white moysture. It is large, and shaped like a chesnut, thin, and of a large con∣veyance. It clings fast to the peritonaeum. The straight gut at the end hath such side passages, as all Cocks have, but parted, and reaching into the sides, even to the reins. Here on each side ly their egges. The mid-rif is interwoaven with great veins. The heart is roundish, and whitish, hollow on one corner, placed just above the liver. The sharp artery (which is worthy mar∣king) a little after the beginning is cloven, and the branches are twisted. The lungs above cling to the back-bone, thin, not fleshy, but ra∣ther skinny, set into the sharp artery, like a blackish net-worke. The disposition of the Hyois-bone, and shield-gristle is remarkable. In the skull of the Sea-tortoyse is a partition. These come about in the deserts of Africa, and in some part of Lybia.* 1.3 Also in the Arcadian woods;* 1.4 they of old made harps of them. They are most in the Isle Dioscoris in the red-sea. Living in the deserts they have been thought to feed on dew.* 1.5 Others say they crop young sprouts of pot-herbs, and Pompions, &c. Worms also they eat, and shell-fish. In house they kept with bran, and meal. To passe by fables, of their being gendred of Geranus a woman turned into a Crane, and Nicodamas. They lay hard shelled, and party-coloured egges, which they hide in the ground, and at times sit on, and the following year they foster them. It is a mistake that they conceive only when the wind blows.* 1.6 It is certainer, that the female being very slow to coupling is of the male quickned by an herb. The Greeks eat them not. Certain Hungarians seeing Clusius tast of one,* 1.7 beleeved he should dy of it. In India they are commonly eaten. In August, and September, when corn is ripe, they are fattest, and most cried up. Some say, from Fe∣bruary to May the Shees are best, being then full of egges, and from June to Autumne, the Hees.* 1.8 Some praise them with garlick sauce. At this day at Bononia they behead the female land-Crocodile, and throw away the blood, and seeth it till the shell fall from the flesh, and wash the inward, and boyl all together with saffran, sweet spices, pines, and raisins in Malm∣sy, and so serve it in.
The flesh makes good perfumes against witchraft,* 1.9 and poyson. In Africa they cut off the head, and feet, and make an antidote of them. In pottage eaten they disperse swel∣lings, and help the falling sicknesse, and spleen; the blood clears the ey-sight, and removes blood-shot, rednesse in the eyes, and helps against all venome of serpents, spiders, toads, the blood wrought with meal into pilles, and take in wine; the gall with Athenian hony is good for the yellow in the eyes, and the stroak of a scorpion; the ashes of the shell kneaded with wine, and oyl, closes chaps, and ulcers. The scales shaven off at top in drinke allay, as the the powder of the shell inflames lust. The urine I thinke is not seen but in dissection, but is thought good against aspick-bites, better, if mixt with hog-lice; the egges hardened make an ointment for swellings, and ulcers comming from cold, or burnes. Some swallow them in stomack-aches.
Among the Bononians there is syroop of Tortoyses for short-breath, and consumptions. Some also made a decoction for rheums, and cough, described by Amatus the Portugees. Wecker compounds an electuary against sharp uds of seed. Galen stampt the liver to drink for the suffocations of the mother.
In India are great ones. They pluck off their shells with spades,* 1.10 they have fat, and sweet flesh. In Brasil is one called Jubeti, by the Portugees Cagado de terra; it hath a black shell with many six cornered marks thereon, snowted as others.* 1.11 The head, and legs dusk, but shadowed, and spotted. The liver hath a more savoury tast, thenof any other beast.