Box tortoise, Land tortoise, etc. See under Box, Land, etc. — Painted
tortoise. (Zoöl.) See Painted turtle, under Painted. — Soft-shell
tortoise. (Zoöl.) See Trionyx. — Spotted tortoise. (Zoöl.) A small
American fresh-water tortoise (Chelopus, or Nanemys, quttatus) having a
blackish carapace on which are scattered round yellow spots. — Tortoise
beetle (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of small tortoise-shaped
beetles. Many of them have a brilliant metallic luster. the larvæ feed
upon the leaves of various plants, and protect themselves beneath a
mass of dried excrement held over the back by means of the caudal
spines. The golden tortoise beetle (Cassida aurichalcea) is found on
the morning-glory vine and allied plants. — Tortoise plant. (Bot.) See
Elephant's foot, under Elephant. — Tortoise shell, the substance of the
shell or horny plates of several species of sea turtles, especially of
the hawkbill turtle. It is used in inlaying and in the manufacture of
various ornamental articles. — Tortoise- shell butterfly (Zoöl.), any
one of several species of handsomely colored butterflies of the genus
Aglais, as A. Milberti, and A. urticæ, both of which, in the larva
state, feed upon nettles. — Tortoise-shell turtle (Zoöl.), the hawkbill
turtle. See Hawkbill.
Tor"tri*cid (?), a. [See Tortrix.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to Tortix,
or the family Tortricidæ.
||Tor"trix (?), n. [NL., fr. L. torquere, tortum, to twist.] 1. (Zoöl.)
||Any one of numerous species of small moths of the family Tortricidæ,
||the larvæ of which usually roll up the leaves of plants on which they
||live; — also called leaf roller.
||
2. (Zoöl.) A genus of tropical short- tailed snakes, which are not
venomous. One species (Tortrix scytalæ) is handsomely banded with
black, and is sometimes worn alive by the natives of Brazil for a
necklace.
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Tor"tu*lous (?), a. (Nat. Hist.) Swelled out at intervals like a
knotted cord.