Chelonians

From the weedy margin of a muddy inland lake we see a slowly moving object approach us.  Its body resembles a modern war machine with its heavy protective armor-plate and its retractable appendages.  The body shell to a great extent compensates for its lack of fire power for its enemies find it well-nigh impregnable.  Nearly all of the two hundred and fifty species are amphibious—adapted to both land and water.  Unlike our amphibious tanks which are well equipped with guns, the chelonians have...