In China, specifically around Hankow
so it seems, is a type of hairy tortoise; the following story appeared in the
Bradford Observer of March 13th 1875, and the e-mail I was sent
containing it included errors, but the substance of it is below. This is also a
Christmas present for Jon as I know he`s interested in these critters.
Telescopic Fish and
Hairy Tortoise
Several notable
living curiosities have been brought to the Brighton Aquarium. Chief amongst
them were the " telescope
fish," just arrived from China China
In the “Travels of a Pioneer of Commerce
in Pigtails and Petticoats” by T.T. Cooper (London,Murray,1871, page 459) there
is a plate of one of these hairy tortoises from the lakes of Ha-su above Hankow
(see image here,Rich) . These curious little animals were two inches long, and
covered on the back with a long confervoid growth resembling hair.The tortoise
being a sacred emblem in China
There was also an American hairy
tortoise:
AN AMERICAN HAIRY
TORTOISE
To the editors
of the Popular Science Monthly
Noticing your interesting extract
from “Land and Water” concerning the “hairy tortoise” , I take the liberty of
mentioning a similar species found to my knowledge in the lakes of this valley.
Its description tallies almost exactly with that of the Chinese variety, except
perhaps in size. It is about three inches in length by two and a half breadth,
is very closely covered by its shell , the calipiee is not hinged, and out of
some dozen specimens examined by me not one was without the coat of water-grass.
Its habitat is at the bottom of shallow lakes and ponds, and near the submerged
roots of trees, where it is often caught with the hook. It has a remarkably
fetid odour. The grassy or confervoid covering is not of any great length,
generally about one half or three fourths of an inch. It is, I believe an
undescribed species, though Mr Aggasiz may have had a specimen among his
collection of tortoises from the Mississippi Valley
Very Respectfully, J.F. BATTAILE,
YAZOO
CITY
There is a telescope fish in the
cold waters of the S.Hemisphere and gold-fish of this name, but I don`t know
whether or not the telescope fish mentioned above is of these species.
1. Bradford Observer March 13th 1875.
2. Popular Science Monthly . Dec
1878. p. 246
3. Popular Science Monthly February
1879 p. 530.
Richard
P.S. Flying Snake 4 will be available in early January containing Dr Devo`s diary, Odd Britsh toads, Chinese coins in strange places,
Oxford University`s tortoise mascots, a Japanese snake with two legs, a Giant
Crocodile ballad and more! See http://homepage.ntlworld.com/richmuirhead/cryptozoology/
for payment instructions. Back issues available. Happy Christmas!
