The peculiarity of this creature is that it can draw its head within its
shell, so that, as few creatures would wish to swallow such a morsel
whole, it has no enemy except man to fear. It might, to be sure, run
the risk of being carried off by an eagle and let drop on a hard rock,
if the savage king of birds ever does perform such a feat; but though
stories are frequently told of his doing so, their truth is greatly
doubted.
The box tortoise lives on shore among the pine-forest lands, away from
water, to which it seems to have an especial dislike. It is frequently
called, therefore, the pine terrapin. It is one of the smallest of its
tribe--being little more than six inches long--and varies very greatly
in its colour. Its head is remarkable for having a somewhat broad hook
at the end of the upper jaw--the lower jaw being slightly hooked.